Astronaut Nick Hague has become the first Space Force Guardian to launch into space following the successful SpaceX Dragon Crew-9 launch to the International Space Station (ISS) this weekend. The US Space Force (USSF) Colonel traveled alongside Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov and two empty seats, which are reserved for the return of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. First Space Force Guardian space launch Hague was in command of the Crew Dragon spacecraft during its launch from Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday afternoon.
The mission was the first crewed spaceflight out of SLC-40, and also a significant milestone for the US Space Force, with Hague becoming the first serving USSF member to go to space. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Dragon launched at 13:17 EDT on Saturday before docking with the ISS at 17:30 EDT on Sunday. Hague will be spending approximately five months in space before returning to Earth with Gorbunov, Williams and Wilmore in February.
NASA deemed Boeing's Starliner spacecraft - which suffered a series of control thruster problems and helium links during its journey to the ISS in June - too risky for a crewed return to Earth, opting instead to bring Wilmore and Williams home on the Crew-9's terrestrial return in February 2025. The Crew 8 team - consisting of Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, Jeanette Epps and cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin - remain on the ISS and are sch.