( The Hill ) – The U.S. Space Force will send its first Guardian into space this summer in a mission with other astronauts, NASA announced on Wednesday.
Space Force Col. Tyler “Nick” Hague, a native of Hoxie, Kansas, will join three other astronauts on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission no earlier than August, headed for the International Space Station (ISS).
NASA astronaut and Kansas native Nick Hague returning home
The team will replace the current Crew-8 at the ISS.
Hague will be the first Guardian to be launched into space, though now-retired U.S. Space Force Col. Mike Hopkins was awarded the recognition of first Guardian in space in 2020 after he transferred from the Air Force to the Space Force .
Hague’s coming flight was first reported by Defense One . Jerry Porter, chief of public affairs at Space Launch Delta 45, announced the first Guardian was heading into space at a conference event Tuesday, according to the outlet.