NASA’s 'Unusual' Dragon Spacecraft Issue: What It Means for Sunita Williams’ SpaceX Crew-9 Return

NASA revealed on Friday that SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission faced a “very unusual problem” just before its scheduled launch to the International Space Station (ISS). While weather-related delays due to Tropical Storm Helene already pushed the launch back, a separate technical issue arose: soot accumulation on the Dragon spacecraft caused by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

The problem was described by NASA's Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich, who explained that the Merlin engine of the Falcon 9 produced soot as a by-product. Unusually strong easterly winds caused the soot to blow back onto the Dragon spacecraft, coating its surface. As a result, SpaceX had to roll the spacecraft back into the hangar for cleaning and even repainting some areas, particularly the radiators. These radiators are critical for managing heat in space, and the soot could have compromised their functionality.

Launch Delays and Uncertainty

Initially scheduled for September 26, the launch was postponed to September 28 due to concerns over Tropical Storm Helene. As the storm escalated into a hurricane, the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule were moved to safety in the hangar, delaying preparations further. NASA and SpaceX are now watching the weather closely, with officials predicting only a 55% chance of favorable conditions for today’s launch at 1:17 PM EDT.

NASA's Commercial Crew team took to social media, posting, “Weather officers are predicting a moderate chance of suitable launch conditions, but storm activity remains a concern," the post reads.  The biggest weather challenges include cumulus clouds, surface electric fields, and precipitation at the launch site in Cape Canaveral.

Crew Reshuffling Adds Another Twist

Amid the technical and weather complications, NASA also had to make a significant change to the Crew-9 mission. Originally, the mission was planned to launch with four astronauts, but that number has been reduced to two due to another unforeseen issue. Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stuck on the ISS since their Boeing Starliner capsule returned to Earth without them earlier this month. To bring them home, NASA swapped two original crewmates, Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, allowing Williams and Wilmore to return aboard Dragon.

This reshuffling has postponed Cardman and Wilson’s flights to later missions, a decision acknowledged as difficult by Ken Bowersox, NASA’s Associate Administrator for Space Operations. "We really appreciate how hard it is to give up a mission and wait a little longer,” he said.

What's Next for Crew-9?

Despite the challenges, NASA remains optimistic about a successful launch today. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket are now back on the launch pad, with cargo loading already underway. NASA astronaut *Nick Hague* and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will command the mission. They are scheduled to dock with the ISS around 5:30 PM on Sunday, September 29.

With the rocket cleared for launch and the weather forecast still up in the air, the final countdown is set to begin. All eyes are on Cape Canaveral, where both weather and technology will determine if today is the day for Crew-9’s long-awaited mission.