SpaceX Crew-9 Commander Col. Nick Hague Addresses VSFB Personnel in Passionate Speech

Col. Nick Hague, SpaceX Crew-9 commander, NASA astronaut, and the U.S. Space Force’s first Guardian addressed the ground crew and Student Guardians of the 533rd Training Group at Vandenberg Space Force Base during a visit on June 18, 2025. The visit was a special occasion for the staff and students as Hague shared his spaceflight experiences and praised the contributions of VSFB personnel.

Highlights

• Col. Nick Hague visited the Vandenberg Space Force Base on June 18, 2025.
• He took the time to address the ground crew and other personnel, as well as students of the 533rd Training Group.
• Hague has spent nearly a year aboard the International Space Station.

Col. Hague Highlights VSFB Team’s Role in Mission Success

Hague had been on the SpaceX Crew-9 mission for 170 days. The mission took the team to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Expedition 72. He returned to Earth on March 28, 2025. In total, Hague has spent close to a year in space, fulfilling his childhood dream of space exploration.

During his visit to the VSFB, he expressed gratitude towards the personnel at the base for their assistance and support. He said, “The 18th Space Defense Squadron played a crucial role in supporting my mission aboard the space station, ensuring the safe navigation of our operations and preventing potential collisions with orbital debris or other objects in space. That’s why I’m here at Vandenberg, to be able to spend time with the Guardians and Airmen who are a part of Team Vandenberg. They’re the ones tracking all that stuff.”

He also shared his experience as an astronaut and the routine the crew followed to remain active and resilient throughout their time in microgravity. His latest mission, Hague said, required the team to perform cardio and weightlifting routines inside the ISS to prevent muscle and bone density loss.

Hague graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering. He then submitted three separate applications to the space program over a decade and was finally selected to become a NASA astronaut in 2013. In 2018, however, he faced a critical challenge when his shuttle malfunctioned.

During his address at the VSFB, he credited the training and the support of VSFB staff with helping astronauts manage mission challenges. He said, “We’re fortunate to have an exceptional team of psychologists and human factors experts who specialize in behavioral performance. They prepare us to manage the stress of spaceflight—before launch, during the mission, and even as we reintegrate with our families upon return.”