Photo credit: www.nasa.gov
NASA’s Crew-9 Astronauts to Hold Postflight News Conference
Following an extensive mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts from NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 will share their experiences during a postflight news conference scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 31. The event will take place at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and will provide insights into their scientific endeavors in space.
Astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore will be present to discuss their time in orbit and answer media questions. Although Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov returned with the crew on March 18, he will not be available for the news conference due to prior commitments.
Viewers can watch the live coverage on NASA+, with additional streaming options available across various social media platforms.
Media members are invited to attend the event either in person or virtually. Those wishing to participate in person must request accreditation by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28, either by calling the NASA Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 or sending an email to jsccommu@mail.nasa.gov. For those joining via phone, it is necessary to call in no later than ten minutes before the conference starts. Questions can also be submitted through social media using the hashtag #AskNASA.
Hague and Gorbunov launched on September 28, 2024, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, reaching the ISS shortly after docking the next day. Meanwhile, Williams and Wilmore’s expedition commenced on June 5, 2024, via Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, docking with the station on June 6 as part of the Boeing Crew Flight Test initiative. Their missions contributed significantly to the ongoing work of the ISS, with Williams and Wilmore logging 286 days in space, completing over 121 million miles and over 4,576 orbits around Earth. In contrast, Hague and Gorbunov recorded 171 days in space with approximately 72 million miles and 2,736 orbits.
During their time on the ISS, Hague, Williams, and Wilmore collectively spent more than 900 hours conducting over 150 research experiments. Their studies ranged from investigating plant growth in microgravity to exploring stem cell technology aimed at enhancing healthcare outcomes on Earth. Additionally, they engaged in crucial research on material degradation in space and performed a spacewalk to gather samples from the exterior of the station, examining the resilience of microorganisms in a cosmic environment. They also contributed to educational outreach, participating in 30 ham radio events with students from around the globe and leading a student-driven genetic experiment designed to inspire future generations of scientists and explorers.
The successful missions of Crew-9 highlight the achievements of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which aims to establish safe, effective, and affordable access to the ISS. This groundbreaking initiative, in collaboration with commercial partners, is reshaping the future of human space exploration by expanding opportunities for research and science, as well as paving the way for upcoming endeavors to the Moon and Mars.
For additional details on NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew
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Source
www.nasa.gov