NASA has decided to postpone the Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with the new launch date shifting from August 18 to September 24. This delay is primarily due to ongoing problems with the Starliner spacecraft, which is currently docked at the ISS. Although NASA has not made a formal announcement yet, insiders suggest that this decision will be confirmed soon.
Crew Composition in Flux
Originally, the Crew-9 mission was set to send NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Nick Hague, and Stephanie Wilson, alongside Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, to the ISS for a six-month mission. However, due to the issues with Starliner, NASA is considering a reduced crew of just two astronauts. This adjustment stems from the prolonged stay of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been at the ISS far beyond their initial eight-day mission while engineers work on Starliner’s thruster problems.
Starliner’s Technical Troubles
The Starliner, developed by Boeing, faced serious thruster malfunctions during its ascent to the ISS two months ago, with five of its small thrusters failing. Despite comprehensive ground tests and some in-space trials, NASA has not yet cleared the Starliner for a return mission. A critical Flight Readiness Review was delayed due to internal disagreements about the spacecraft’s safety.
The primary concern is the performance of the thrusters when near the ISS. A failure at a crucial moment could cause Starliner to lose control and potentially crash into the space station. Additionally, these thrusters are crucial for the spacecraft’s return to Earth. As a result, NASA is now considering the possibility of using a Crew Dragon spacecraft to bring Wilmore and Williams back home.
Further complicating matters, the Starliner’s flight software requires an update. The current version cannot perform an automated undocking from the ISS or re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. This is particularly puzzling because Starliner’s Orbital Flight Test 2 in May 2022 showed that the spacecraft could perform these tasks autonomously. However, sources indicate that updating the software could take up to a month, contributing to the Crew-9 mission delay.
NASA’s Position
During a press briefing on July 25, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich acknowledged these issues. He stressed that ensuring the safe return of Wilmore and Williams is a top priority and that the Starliner was designed for crew operations.
The ISS has two docking ports for crewed missions, one occupied by Crew-8 and the other by Starliner. With Crew-8 expected to return to Earth soon, the availability of docking ports is a pressing issue. NASA needs to ensure that Starliner’s undocking software is reliable to avoid rendering one of these ports unusable.
Boeing’s Confidence
In the face of these challenges, Boeing has been advocating for the safe return of Starliner with its crew. The company has conducted extensive testing and believes it has provided sufficient data to ensure the thrusters’ reliability. In a recent statement, Boeing expressed confidence in Starliner’s ability to safely return with crew, highlighting its commitment to additional testing and reviews as requested by NASA.
Risk Management
NASA is carefully balancing the risks associated with Starliner’s crew safety, the potential for an uncrewed departure, and the overall safety of ISS operations. The Crew-9 mission delay allows NASA more time to evaluate Starliner’s readiness and to complete necessary software updates.
