Crew-9 SpaceX mission that is scheduled to be launched to ISS is to be manned by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov The mission is intended to be launched on September 24, 2024.
The mission commander will be Hague and Gorbunov will be of mission specialist. The flight will take place aboard the SpaceX Dragon and will involve only two astronauts since NASA is changing its crew size for future missions.
This is going to be the third space mission for Hague and 203 days of experience, and for Gorbunov, it is going to be the first mission. The two astronauts will be part of the Expedition 72 crew on board the ISS where they will conduct more research and undertake some of the essential tasks performed on the station.
The personnel decision to decrease the Crew-9 team may be explained by the process of having a completely integrated crew of astronauts and cosmonauts on board the ISS with basic working experience which is necessary for the mission completion and safety guarantees.