(Washington) NASA announced Tuesday that it is postponing the launch of astronauts with SpaceX from August to the end of September, due to problems encountered by Boeing’s spacecraft, Starlinerdocked with the International Space Station for two months.
The capsule Starlinerwhich carried two NASA astronauts to the Space Station (ISS) in early June, was originally scheduled to spend just over a week in space, but tests had to be conducted after several anomalies were detected in flight.
Since then, the mission has dragged on and its return date has become increasingly uncertain.
If Boeing’s vehicle proves unsafe to bring back its two astronauts, NASA will have to find another way to get them back to Earth. For example, the US space agency could consider using a SpaceX ship, leaving Starliner leave empty.
SpaceX’s next manned mission is a regular ISS crew rotation mission. The four members of this mission, named Crew-9were initially due to take off in mid-August, in order to relieve the four members of Crew-8 currently on board the flying laboratory.
But Crew-9 could possibly leave with only two astronauts instead of four, in order to be able to bring back the two Boeing space castaways on its return, according to the specialist press.
The takeoff of Crew-9 is now pushed back to September 24 at the earliest, NASA said.
“This adjustment gives more time […] to finalize planning for the return of Boeing’s manned test flight,” NASA wrote, specifying that the analysis of the tests carried out on Starliner was still in progress.
The capsule, after its takeoff to the ISS, had encountered problems with its propulsion system as well as helium leaks.
“NASA and Boeing continue to assess the readiness of the spacecraft.” Starliner and “no decision has been taken regarding [son] “return,” the US space agency added.
NASA plans a press conference Wednesday covering both Starliner And Crew-9.