Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Crew-9 Launch Plans
NASA and SpaceX are gearing up for the Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with a planned launch no earlier than August 18. This mission will be the ninth crew rotation flight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Astronauts on Board
The Crew-9 mission will send 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 are still aboard the ISS due to technical difficulties with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which has been docked since June. The spacecraft is experiencing problems with its thrusters and helium systems.
Ongoing Fixes
Engineers are working to resolve the technical issues with Starliner. NASA’s commercial crew program manager, Steve Stich, has noted that a return timeline for Williams and Wilmore has not been established yet.
Backup Plans
NASA is considering alternative methods for bringing Williams and Wilmore back to Earth, including the potential use of a SpaceX Dragon capsule if Starliner remains inoperative.
Docking Port Issues
The current situation presents a challenge for managing docking ports at the ISS. ISS program manager Dana Weigel emphasized that the Starliner needs to be undocked to make space for the Crew-9 mission.
SpaceX Rocket Clearance
The Crew-9 launch follows 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.
Ongoing ISS Operations
Despite the issues with Starliner, NASA is maintaining its schedule for crew rotations and research aboard the ISS, with Crew-9 set to bring new crew members and scientific experiments to the station.
