Crew-9 was initially expected to launch on Thursday but was postponed due to bad weather.

New Delhi: NASA-SpaceX is all set to launch Crew-9, comprising an astronaut (USA) and an astronaut (Russia) on what is described as a mission to bring back Sunita Williams, who is stranded in the International Space Station (ISS). Earth in February next year.

Sunita Williams is of Indian origin.

Liftoff is targeted for 1:17 pm EDT (10:47 pm IST) from Space Launch Complex-40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, September 28, NASA added, adding, “This is the first human spaceflight mission. Launch from that pad.”

Crew-9 was initially expected to launch on Thursday but was postponed due to bad weather from Hurricane Helen, which is currently affecting Florida's Gulf Coast.

The flight will carry NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov to the orbiting laboratory for a roughly five-month science mission. He will return to Earth in February with Williams and Butch Wilmore.

Williams and Wilmore traveled to the ISS on an eight-day journey aboard the faulty Boeing Starliner. The Starliner was declared unfit for human travel by NASA and returned safely to Earth, leaving the astronaut pair stranded in space.

Meanwhile, NASA's Flight Readiness Review confirmed that all systems are “go” for launch, ensuring that the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are ready for the crucial mission.

For the first time since a May 2020 test flight, SpaceX is sending two astronauts to the ISS on a Dragon spacecraft.

In an effort to make room for Williams and Wilmore in the orbiting laboratory, NASA had evacuated two other Crew-9 members — Commander Zena Cardman and three-time shuttle flyer Stephanie Wilson.

The Crew-9 mission will carry two empty flights with additional cargo and supplies, including the new Dragon spacesuit for Wilmore (one for Williams is already on the ISS).

The target docking time is approximately 5:30 a.m. Sunday (3:30 a.m. Monday), NASA said.

(with IANS input)