SpaceX launches rescuemission for 2 NASA astronautsstuck in space until next year CAPE
CAPE CANAVER :
SPACEX launched a rescue mission for the
two stuck astronauts at the International
Space Station on Saturday, sending up a
downsized crew to bring them home but
not until next year.
The capsule rocketed into orbit to fetch
the test pilots whose Boeing spacecraft
returned toEarth empty earlier thismonth
because of safety concerns.
The switch in
rides left it to NASA’s Nick Hague and
Russia’s Alexander Gorbunov to retrieve
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.
Since NASA rotates space station crews
approximately every sixmonths, thisnewly launched flight with two empty seats
reserved for Wilmore and Williams won’t
return until late February. Officials said
there wasn’t a way to bring them back earlier on SpaceX without interrupting other scheduled missions.