Soyuz MS-25 lands with NASA astronaut, record-setting cosmonautsSeptember 23, 2024 — Two Russian cosmonauts have returned to Earth after a record-long stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), but for one of them, the past 374 days has amounted to barely a third of his total time spent in space.
Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, along with NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson, landed on Russia's Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft on Monday (Sept. 23). The 7:59 a.m. EDT (1159 GMT or 4:59 p.m. local time) touchdown on the steppe of Kazakhstan concluded Kononenko and Chub's more than yearlong mission and a 184-day stay on the ISS for Dyson. (...)
Kononenko, 60, and Chub, 40, are the
seventh and eighth people in history to log 365 days or more on a single mission.http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-092324a-soyuz-ms-25-landing-record-days-space.htmlSoyuz brings two cosmonauts, NASA astronaut back to Earth after record-setting missionSeptember 23, 2024 William Harwood
The Soyuz MS-25/71S spacecraft carrying commander Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub and NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson undocked from the International Space Station early Monday as the two spacecraft were passing 260 miles above eastern Mongolia. Image: NASA(...) Hague and Gorbunov are now scheduled for launch Thursday afternoon from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The four Crew 8 fliers — Dominick, Barratt, Epps and Grebenkin — plan to return to Earth around Oct. 4.
Hague, Gorbunov, Wilmore and Williams are now expected to come home around Feb. 22 aboard the Crew 9 Dragon.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/09/23/soyuz-brings-two-cosmonauts-nasa-astronaut-back-to-earth-after-record-setting-mission/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russian-soyuz-space-station-crew-home-record-setting-mission/https://www.plenglish.com/news/2024/09/23/russian-soyuz-ms-25-spacecraft-begins-return-to-earth/https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240923-russian-cosmonauts-touch-down-in-soyuz-capsule-after-record-breaking-stay-on-isshttps://www.upi.com/Science_News/2024/09/23/Soyuz-spacecraft-returns-ISS/9641727089680/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/09/iss-roundup-092624/Two-member SpaceX Crew-9 prepares for late week Dragon launchSeptember 23, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith [SFN]
Update Sept. 24, 4:04 p.m.: NASA pushed back the launch date due to the potential impacts of future Hurricane Helene.
Update Sept. 23, 2:54 p.m.: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center shifted its status to HURCON 4, due to Potential Tropical Cyclone 9.
Representatives from NASA participate in a media event at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, Sept. 21, upon the arrival of NASA astronaut Nick Hague, commander, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, mission specialist, in advance of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Image: NASA/Kim ShiflettA crew scaled-back in the wake of this summer’s troubled Boeing Starliner test flight, arrived at the Kennedy Space Center this weekend to begin final preparations for their launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon on a six-month mission to the International Space Station.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/09/23/two-member-spacex-crew-9-prepares-for-late-week-dragon-launch/NASA, SpaceX conduct prelaunch activities as Tropical Storm delays Crew-9 missionSeptember 24, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith [SFN]
SpaceX static fires its Falcon 9 rocket at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) in preparation for the Crew-9 mission on Saturday, Sept. 28. The test came following a dry dress rehearsal of launch activities earlier in the day. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight NowNASA and SpaceX pushed ahead with planned prelaunch activities Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s pad 40 on Tuesday even as the date of liftoff for the Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station had to be delayed due to expected impacts from Tropical Storm Helene.
In a statement late Tuesday afternoon, NASA announced that the launch, originally set for Thursday, Sept. 26, was being delayed to no earlier than Saturday, Sept. 28, at 1:17 p.m. EDT (1717 UTC). The agency said the storm, which is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as early as Wednesday morning, will likely have impacts on Florida’s Space Coast.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/09/24/live-coverage-nasa-spacex-conduct-prelaunch-activities-as-tropical-storm-delays-crew-9-mission/Falcon 9 sends new crew to ISS on first crewed launch from SLC-40Jeff Foust September 28, 2024
A Falcon 9 lifts off from SLC-40 on the Crew-9 mission to the ISS Sept. 28. Credit: NASAWASHINGTON — A Falcon 9 launched a NASA astronaut and Russian cosmonaut to the International Space Sept. 28 on the first crewed mission from a historic Cape Canaveral pad.
A Falcon 9 lifted off at 1:17 p.m. Eastern from Space Launch Complex (SLC) 04 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. It placed into orbit the Crew Dragon spacecraft Freedom, which is scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station around 5:30 p.m. Eastern Sept. 29.
The Crew-9 mission will deliver NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos Aleksandr Gorbunov to the station. The two will spend about five months on the station as part of Expedition 72. (...)
The cargo on the Crew Dragon spacecraft includes a Dragon-compatible pressure suit for Wilmore — there was one that fit Williams already on the station — so that they can return on that spacecraft when the Crew-9 mission wraps up in early 2025. (...)
SpaceX started work on a crew tower at SLC-40 two years ago at NASA’s request. The agency wanted a backup option in case something happened at LC-39A, which is used extensively by SpaceX for other Falcon 9 missions as well as the Falcon Heavy. SpaceX also has plans to launch its Starship vehicle from that facility.
NASA elected to use SLC-40 for Crew-9 because LC-39A is being prepared for the Falcon Heavy launch of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission as soon as Oct. 10, a process that takes at least three weeks to complete. NASA had planned to use LC-39A for the mission before the agency delayed its launch from August as part of deliberations on Starliner. (...)
One exception is the crew escape system at SLC-40, which uses chutes that crew members slide down, rather than baskets mounted on wires at LC-39A. “We think those are more effective for the crew in the event of an emergency,” he said. (...)
https://spacenews.com/falcon-9-sends-new-crew-to-iss-on-first-crewed-launch-from-slc-40/SpaceX launches two to space station, giving Starliner astronauts a ride home in FebruarySeptember 27, 2024 William Harwood
A SpaceX Crew Dragon atop a Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) for the first time on the Crew-9 mission. Image: Michael Cain/Spaceflight NowSpaceX launched a reduced two-man crew on a flight to the International Space Station Saturday, along with supplies and a pair of empty seats for two Starliner astronauts waiting to hitch a ride home in February after an unexpected eight-and-a-half-month stay in orbit.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/09/27/two-man-crew-bound-for-space-station-will-give-starliner-astronauts-a-ride-home-in-february/'Aurora,' the plush baby falcon, takes flight again as zero-g indicatorSeptember 28, 2024 — A tradition borrowed from the Russian space program has now physically crossed over to an American spacecraft for the first time.
The "zero-g [gravity] indicator" that launched aboard SpaceX's Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station on Saturday (Sept. 28), previously flew on two Russian Soyuz capsules, including one that survived an emergency in-flight abort. (...)
Hague is the first American astronaut to re-fly a zero-g indicator since the tradition began on U.S. spaceflights in 2019. "Suhail," the mascot for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) astronaut program, was also carried on Soyuz and Dragon, but by two different Emirati crew members and in the form of two dolls of distinct designs.
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-092824a-spacex-crew-9-zero-g-indicator-aurora-falcon.htmlNASA-SpaceX: A partnership in spaceflight like no otherby Trevor Mahlmann September 28, 2024

(...) When SpaceX unveiled Dragon 2 (V2 at the time) in 2014, it was slated to land on a concrete pad in Cape Canaveral, just like the first stages of their rockets would begin to in late 2015. In 2017, it was announced that NASA preferred parachute-assisted landings mainly to avoid complexity and schedule slippage. For a while, propulsive landings of the Crew Dragon spacecraft were no more.
Until yesterday, when during a prelaunch press conference, NASA’s Steve Stich announced that propulsive landings are coming back, in a way. “We can land with one ‘chute out, we can land with other failures in the ‘chute system, but this is only in the case where all four parachutes just do not operate. In that case, the capsule detects that there’s a problem and it fires essentially the [Super]Draco thrusters at the very end and then provides a tolerable landing for the crew.” Continuing, “save the crew on a really bad day.”
In sharing this, it was also noted that it was a “deep contingency” but NASA’s philosophy is that if they have a system they’re not currently using to enhance crew safety, they might as well. It’s a backup to the backup-backup.
Additionally, it was shared that this configuration had also been flown on several non-NASA crewed missions; NASA was just adopting it for its crewed launches for the first time. Impressive stuff. (...)
https://www.tmahlmann.com/2024/09/nasa-spacex-a-partnership-in-spaceflight-like-no-other/https://www.chron.com/news/space/article/spacex-nasa-astronauts-19797431.phphttps://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/1931171/l-iss-a-une-grosse-fuite-d-oxygene-et-elle-pourrait-compromettre-la-vie-les-astronautes.htmAs it happened: NASA, SpaceX undocked Crew-8 from the International Space Station following weeks of weather-related delays, scheduling conflicts October 23, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith [SFN]
The return of Crew-8 may be visible to those in the southern part of Mexico as it approaches Florida. NASA and SpaceX plan to move Dragon recovery efforts to the West Coast following the return of Crew-9 in February 2025 in order to more safely dispose of the Dragon's trunk section over the Pacific Ocean.
See NASA's visibility path below (times listed in EDT):
https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/10/23/live-coverage-nasa-spacex-to-undock-crew-8-following-weeks-of-weather-related-delays-scheduling-conflicts/NASA astronaut hospitalized after Crew-8 returnJeff Foust October 25, 2024
The members of the Crew-8 crew shortly after splashdown Oct. 25 (from left): Alexander Grebenkin, Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps. Credit: NASA/Joel KowskyWASHINGTON — A NASA astronaut who returned to Earth on the Crew-8 mission is hospitalized in stable condition after experiencing an unspecified medical issue after splashdown.
In an Oct. 25 statement, NASA said the unidentified astronaut “experienced a medical issue” after the Crew Dragon splashdown in the early morning hours off the coast of Pensacola, Florida. The astronaut “is in stable condition under observation as a precautionary measure” at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola hospital.
https://spacenews.com/nasa-astronaut-hospitalized-after-crew-8-return/Crew-8 astronaut released from hospitalJeff Foust October 26, 2024 [SN]
The members of the Crew-8 crew shortly after splashdown Oct. 25 (from left): Alexander Grebenkin, Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps. Credit: NASA/Joel KowskyWASHINGTON — A member of the Crew-8 mission hospitalized for an unspecified medical issue after splashdown has been released after an overnight stay, NASA said Oct. 26.
https://spacenews.com/crew-8-astronaut-released-from-hospital/Crew-8 returns to EarthJeff Foust October 25, 2024 Updated 8:40 a.m. Eastern about additional medical evaluations.
Recovery teams work on the Crew Dragon spacecraft after splashdown to conclude the Crew-8 mission Oct. 25. Credit: NASa/Joel KowskyWASHINGTON — A Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully returned to Earth from the International Space Station early Oct. 25, wrapping up a record-setting mission.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft Endeavour splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast from Pensacola, Florida, at 3:29 a.m. Eastern. The spacecraft had undocked from the ISS at 5:05 p.m. Eastern Oct. 23. (...)
NASA and SpaceX announced earlier this year that SpaceX will move Dragon splashdowns to off the California coast in 2025, a move intended to allow a change in reentry procedures to ensure the Dragon’s trunk section burns up over the ocean after several trunks reentered over land, with fragments reaching the ground. SpaceX noted that the change should allow better weather for splashdowns as well.
Bill Gerstenmaier, SpaceX vice president for build and flight reliability, said at the briefing that the company was planning to start West Coast splashdowns in early 2025. “When we make that move, the intent will be to stay on the West Coast for recovery and move activities there,” he said. (...)
https://spacenews.com/crew-8-returns-to-earth/NASA panel calls on SpaceX to “maintain focus” on Dragon safety after recent anomaliesJeff Foust November 1, 2024
A Falcon 9 lifts off from SLC-40 on the Crew-9 mission to the ISS Sept. 28. Credit: NASAWASHINGTON — A recent series of anomalies by SpaceX prompted a warning by a NASA safety panel to stay focused on safety for crewed flights.
At an Oct. 31 meeting of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), Kent Rominger, a former astronaut who serves on the committee, went through a list of “recent issues” with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft that he said served as a reminder to remain vigilant as the company increases its pace of missions.
https://spacenews.com/nasa-panel-calls-on-spacex-to-maintain-focus-on-dragon-safety-after-recent-anomalies/Falcon 9 launches cargo Dragon mission to ISSJeff Foust November 5, 2024
A time-lapse photo of the Falcon 9 launch of the CRS-31 cargo Dragon mission to the ISS Nov. 4. Credit: SpaceXWASHINGTON — SpaceX launched a cargo Dragon mission to the International Space Station as the company and NASA reaffirmed their commitment to safety.
A Falcon 9 lifted off at 9:29 p.m. Eastern Nov. 4 from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A. The rocket deployed the Dragon spacecraft into low Earth orbit nine and a half minutes later.
https://spacenews.com/falcon-9-launches-cargo-dragon-mission-to-iss-2/Dragon separation confirmed; autonomous docking with the @Space_Station on Tuesday, November 5 at ~10:15 a.m. ET
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1853628515922628907https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1853813480874271085SpaceX launches 31st cargo resupply mission to the space station for NASANovember 4, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith [NSF]
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket liftoff from Launch Complex 39A to begin the Cargo Resupply Services 31 (CRS-31) to the International Space Station for NASA. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight NowSpaceX launched its 31st resupply mission to the International Space Station on Monday night.
The mission, dubbed Commercial Resupply Services-31 (CRS-31) ferried more than 6,000 pounds of cargo and science experiments to the orbiting outpost. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) happened at 9:29 p.m. EST (0229 UTC). (...)
“Finally, the real breakthrough for this mission… this will be the first time that we’ve measured all three of these key properties: the density, the temperature and speed of the solar wind at the same time. And we’re doing this globally.”
The CODEX experiment is designed to operate for at least six months once it’s installed onto the zenith (space-facing) side of the Express Logistics Carrier 3 on the ISS. Newmark said they will also be opening the data to the public and putting it on a community website for wide use. (...)
https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/11/04/live-coverage-nasa-spacex-to-launch-falcon-9-rocket-on-cargo-resupply-mission-to-the-international-space-station/NASA extends ISS cargo contracts through 2030Jeff Foust November 9, 2024
The space station's robotic arm grapples a Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo spacecraft launched in August 2024. Credit: NASAWASHINGTON — NASA has extended three contracts with companies to continue providing transportation of cargo to and from the International Space Station through the projected end of the station’s life in 2030.
In procurement filings Nov. 8, NASA stated it planned to extend the existing Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) 2 contracts with Northrop Grumman, Sierra Space and SpaceX that were set to expire at the end of 2026 through the end of 2030. NASA’s current plans call for retiring the ISS in 2030.
https://spacenews.com/nasa-extends-iss-cargo-contracts-through-2030/