NASA has delayed its next astronaut launch to give more time at the International Space Station (ISS) for Boeing’s problematic new crew capsule. The space agency announced Tuesday that SpaceX’s four-person flight has been rescheduled from this month to at least September 24. This delay allows for further analysis of the thruster and leak issues encountered by Boeing’s Starliner capsule during its June liftoff, its first manned mission.
The delay follows the two-month milestone at the ISS for Starliner’s test pilots, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were initially expected to return by mid-June. NASA is currently considering all options for their return, including a possible ride back in a SpaceX capsule. “NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate the spacecraft’s readiness, and no decisions have been made regarding Starliner’s return,” NASA stated, with further details anticipated at a Wednesday news conference.
With only two docking ports at the ISS for U.S. astronaut capsules, one will need to be vacated before the next SpaceX crew can arrive. Russian Soyuz capsules have separate docking ports.
This latest issue means that the four astronauts who flew up with SpaceX in March will now have an extended mission. Over the past weeks, Boeing has been testing thrusters on the ground and in space to understand why five thrusters failed before Starliner’s June 6 arrival at the ISS. All but one thruster have since come back online, but helium leaks in the capsule’s propulsion system also emerged.
Despite these challenges, Boeing remains confident in the Starliner’s ability to safely return the crew. Boeing and SpaceX were both selected by NASA for astronaut taxi services after the retirement of the shuttles in 2011, with contracts worth billions to ensure a backup in case of accidents.
SpaceX launched its first crew in 2020, and the upcoming flight will be its 10th astronaut mission for NASA. SpaceX has also sent several private crews into orbit. Boeing, meanwhile, has faced numerous Starliner problems, including the need to launch an empty capsule twice before committing to a crewed mission, due to software and other issues. These delays have cost Boeing over $1 billion.
