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SpaceX\u2019s Crew-9 mission will launch to the International Space Station with only NASA\u2019s Nick Hague and Roscosmos\u2019 Aleksandr Gorbunov onboard, according to an update on Friday<\/a>. Crew-9 will launch \u201cno earlier\u201d than September 24th, with plans to bring delayed Starliner astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams back to Earth next February.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n NASA says the other two US astronauts initially chosen for the mission, Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, will be eligible for reassignment. The agency doesn\u2019t specify why it split the crew up. Despite serving as a ride for Starliner\u2019s astronauts, the two Crew-9 members will carry out their original goal of performing research at the ISS during their stay.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWhile we\u2019ve changed crew before for a variety of reasons, downsizing crew for this flight was another tough decision to adjust to given that the crew has trained as a crew of four,\u201d NASA chief astronaut Joe Acaba said in a statement. \u201cI have the utmost confidence in all our crew, who have been excellent throughout training for the mission.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Meanwhile, Boeing\u2019s Starliner spacecraft will autonomously undock from the ISS on September 6th<\/a> at 6:04PM. It won\u2019t have anyone onboard, but teams on the ground will be ready to \u201cremotely command the spacecraft\u201d if needed. The spacecraft is set to land in New Mexico\u2019s White Sands Space Harbor around six hours later.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n