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Crew-9 Launch Plans

NASA and SpaceX are preparing for the Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for launch no earlier than August 18. This will be the ninth crew rotation flight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Astronauts on Board

The Crew-9 mission will transport NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Nick Hague, and Stephanie Wilson, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

Starliner Issues

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore remain on the ISS due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which has been docked since June. The spacecraft is facing problems with its thrusters and helium systems.

Ongoing Fixes

Engineers are working to resolve the technical problems with Starliner. According to Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, a return timeline for Williams and Wilmore has not yet been determined.

Backup Plans

NASA is exploring alternative methods to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth, including potentially using a SpaceX Dragon capsule if Starliner remains inoperative.

Docking Port Issues

The current situation complicates the management of docking ports at the ISS. ISS program manager Dana Weigel stated that the Starliner needs to be undocked to accommodate the Crew-9 mission. This means that if the Boeing Starliner is undocked from the ISS, it would drift uncontrollably into space without a pilot and could be lost indefinitely.

Boeing’s Financial Impact

Boeing’s Starliner program has faced numerous setbacks, including parachute system failures, flammable protective tape, and battery issues. The estimated financial impact of these problems on Boeing is around $1.5 billion.

19 days left

With Crew-9 scheduled for launch on August 18, NASA has only 19 days remaining to salvage Boeing’s billion-dollar project as of the writing of this article.

SpaceX Rocket Clearance

The Crew-9 launch is moving forward following the Federal Aviation Administration’s recent approval for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to resume flights, after addressing a mid-flight failure earlier in the month.