Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
SpaceX’s ninth operational mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA, known as Crew-9, will not launch on its previously scheduled date of August 18. The launch has been rescheduled to no earlier than September 24, NASA announced on August 6.
NASA stated that the delay allows more time for mission managers to finalize the return plans for the Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT), which is currently docked at the ISS.
The Crew Flight Test is the first astronaut mission of Boeing’s Starliner capsule. Launched on June 5, the mission encountered several issues, including the failure of five of its 28 reaction control system thrusters.
Originally intended for a week-long stay, the Starliner capsule has remained at the ISS as teams investigate the thruster issues to determine the safety and timing of its return to Earth.
Sunita Williams was supposed to have left the ISS over a month ago, but due to serious issues with the Boeing Starliner, NASA has deemed it too dangerous for her to return on this spacecraft.
ISS cannot accommodate additional crew members while Williams and Starliner Commander Butch Wilmore remain on board.
The ISS resources are already stretched thin, as there was no provision for Williams and Wilmore to stay an additional two months, creating significant logistical and operational challenges.
The overcrowding and limited resources on the ISS may lead to the postponement or cancellation of the upcoming astronaut mission, highlighting the urgent need to resolve the Starliner issues.
NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate the Starliner’s readiness for return. No decisions have been made yet regarding the capsule’s return timeline, as the problem-solving efforts are still in progress.
NASA will hold a press conference on August 7 at 12:30 p.m. EDT to discuss ongoing operations, including updates on the Crew-9, Crew-8, and Crew Flight Test missions, potentially providing more clarity on the situation.
SpaceX’s Crew-8 mission, which delivered four astronauts to the ISS in early March, is preparing for its return to Earth after a six-month stay at the orbiting lab.
The Crew-9 mission will include commander Zena Cardman, pilot Nick Hague, mission specialist Stephanie Wilson, all NASA astronauts, and mission specialist Alexsandr Gorbunov from Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos.
NASA continues to manage the logistics of multiple crewed missions amidst the challenges posed by the Boeing Starliner issues, ensuring the safety and success of its astronaut missions.