SpaceX’s Crew-9 flight for NASA was speculated to take off on August 18, however the company has simply introduced that its goal launch date was moved to no sooner than September 24. The delay will give NASA and Boeing extra time to finalize their plans for Boeing Starliner’s return, the company stated in its announcement. What it did not say was that whereas eight area ships can connect themselves to the ISS at one time, the US section of the area station solely has two docking ports that may accommodate astronaut capsules. Each of them are nonetheless occupied, since Starliner’s supposed eight-day keep has stretched on for months.
NASA stated that Starliner’s floor groups are nonetheless analyzing the outcomes of all of the testing they have been placing the spacecraft by way of, together with a latest hot-fire check. They nonetheless want to verify if it is able to deliver again astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams again to Earth earlier than a return flight may very well be scheduled. Boeing’s first crewed Starliner mission launched in June and was solely slated to remain for a couple of days to find out whether or not it was prepared for normal flights to the station. Nevertheless, 5 of its thrusters failed on its strategy to the ISS, and just one got here again on-line. The helium leak that compelled Boeing and NASA to push again its takeoff up to now had worsened, as properly.
In a submitting with the US Securities and Alternate Fee, Boeing revealed that it took one other $125 million in losses because of the Starliner’s delayed return and the in depth testing that needed to be carried out to make sure its readiness. The corporate stated a couple of days in the past, although, that it helps NASA’s requests for added testing and that it “stays assured within the Starliner spacecraft and its means to return safely with crew.”
