NASA Delays Crew-9 Mission Due to Tropical Storm Helene

NASA announced a delay in its Crew-9 mission with SpaceX due to Tropical Storm Helene. The mission, now set for Sept. 28, will send three NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut to the ISS. Originally scheduled for Aug. 18, it was initially postponed to evaluate Boeing's Starliner spacecraft issues.

NASA announced on Tuesday that the launch of its Crew-9 mission with SpaceX has been delayed to September 28 due to Tropical Storm Helene. The mission will see three NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut travel to the International Space Station.

Helene is currently moving through the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to affect the northwest region of Florida. Although it's distant, the storm's size means high winds and heavy rain are expected in the Cape Canaveral area, the launch site for the mission.

The Crew-9 mission was originally scheduled for August 18 but was postponed to allow more time to address issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, currently docked at the ISS. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will be launching aboard the Dragon spacecraft as part of the ninth crew rotation mission under NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

(With inputs from agencies.)