NASA is postponing the next SpaceX flight.
Due to ongoing technical issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule, which is still docked at the International Space Station (ISS), NASA has postponed the next SpaceX flight. SpaceX's Dragon capsule was initially scheduled to launch towards the ISS on August 18, but this flight has been rescheduled to no earlier than September 24, as announced by NASA on Tuesday (local time). This move aims to allow the two Starliner astronauts on board the ISS to potentially return to Earth via the Dragon, instead of their intended Boeing capsule, if Starliner's issues cannot be resolved in the coming weeks.
The Starliner has been docked at the ISS for nearly two months due to problems with its thrusters, when it was initially supposed to stay for about a week. Additionally, helium leaks occurred during the flight to the space station.
The timeline for Boeing's spacecraft to return to Earth remains uncertain. NASA and Boeing continue to assess Starliner's readiness, with no decisions made yet regarding its return flight.
Currently, there are six astronauts on board the ISS - the regular four crew members and the two Starliner astronauts. The Dragon's next flight was initially planned to bring a new four-person crew to the ISS and return the current four crew members. However, it's now possible that the Dragon will only bring back two of the current crew members, along with the two Starliner astronauts. One scenario suggests that the Starliner might return to Earth unmanned for safety reasons.
The Starliner project has been plagued with technical issues for years, causing Boeing to fall behind SpaceX. In 2014, NASA signed multi-billion-dollar contracts with both companies for ISS transportation.
The ongoing problems with Starliner's thrusters and helium leaks have caused significant delays, making the Starliner's return to Earth uncertain. With NASA and Boeing evaluating Starliner's readiness, there's potential for the Dragon capsule to transport the Starliner astronauts back to Earth if Starliner's issues persist.
