NASA has announced a delay in the launch of SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), citing ongoing issues with the troubled Starliner spacecraft. The Starliner, which has been docked at the ISS since early June, was originally scheduled for a 10-day mission. However, problems with some of the spacecraft’s thrusters have prompted NASA engineers to investigate the vehicle’s safety for its return journey with its two crew members on board.
The Crew-9 mission will utilize a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to transport NASA astronauts Stephanie Wilson, Zena Cardman, and Nick Hague, along with Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov. The mission was originally set to launch on August 18, but the liftoff has now been shifted to no earlier than September 24. In a statement released on its website on Tuesday, NASA explained that the delay provides mission managers with more time to finalize return planning for the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test currently docked at the orbiting laboratory.
According to NASA, Starliner ground teams are thoroughly analyzing the results of recent docked hot-fire testing, finalizing flight rationale for the spacecraft’s integrated propulsion system, and confirming system reliability ahead of Starliner’s return to Earth. NASA and Boeing are actively evaluating the spacecraft’s readiness, but no decisions have been made concerning Starliner’s return.
The adjustment to the Crew-9 launch date also accommodates the upcoming Soyuz handover, scheduled for no earlier than mid-September. As a result of the delayed Starliner homecoming, NASA will also adjust the launch of SpaceX’s 31st commercial resupply services mission to no earlier than mid-October.
NASA is hosting a media teleconference on Wednesday to provide an update on its efforts to determine whether the Starliner is ready to return to Earth.
