### SpaceX's Crew-9 Mission Adjustments Due to Starliner Issues

The eighth long-duration astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) managed by SpaceX, known as Crew-8, is currently underway. Meanwhile, Crew-9, which reached the ISS on September 29, has altered its original plans due to complications involving Boeing's Starliner capsule.

Crew-9 brought only two astronauts, Nick Hague from NASA and Aleksandr Gorbunov from Roscosmos, compared to the standard four-member crew. This adjustment was made to provide a return trip for Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were initially transported to the ISS by Boeing's Starliner in June. Their mission, referred to as the Crew Flight Test, was intended to last roughly ten days.

However, the Starliner experienced thruster malfunctions en route to the ISS, leading NASA to prolong the mission duration to scrutinize the issues. Eventually, NASA decided to bring the Starliner back to Earth without any crew, a process that concluded successfully on September 6. Consequently, Williams and Wilmore will return to Earth aboard Crew-9 in February 2025.