NASA has decided to delay its next astronaut launch in order to allow more time at the International Space Station for Boeing's new crew capsule. The SpaceX four-person flight, originally scheduled for this month, has been pushed back to September 24 at the earliest. This delay is to provide NASA with additional time to address thruster and leak issues that arose with Boeing's Starliner capsule following its June liftoff, which was its first crewed mission.
Starliner's test pilots, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, have been at the space station for two months now, well past their expected return date in mid-June. NASA is considering various options for bringing the astronauts back, including utilizing a SpaceX capsule for their return journey.
With only two docking ports available for U.S. astronaut capsules at the space station, both are currently occupied, necessitating the need for one to be vacated before the next SpaceX crew can arrive. Russia has its own docking facilities for its Soyuz capsules.
Boeing has been conducting thruster test firings on the ground and in space to investigate the issues that occurred prior to Starliner's arrival at the space station on June 6. Despite encountering helium leaks in the propulsion system, Boeing expressed confidence in the spacecraft's ability to safely return with crew on board.
Both Boeing and SpaceX were selected by NASA to provide astronaut transportation to and from the space station after the retirement of the shuttles in 2011. SpaceX has already completed nine astronaut flights for NASA and is preparing for its 10th, while also launching private crews into orbit.
Boeing has faced several challenges with the Starliner program, including having to conduct two empty test flights before committing to a crewed mission due to software and other issues. These delays have resulted in significant costs for the company, exceeding $1 billion.
