NASA delays next crew launch to buy more space station time for Boeing’s troubled capsule

NASA is delaying its next astronaut launch to buy more time on the International Space Station for Boeing’s troubled new crew capsule.

The space agency said Tuesday it is postponing this month’s four-person SpaceX flight until next. It is now scheduled for September 24th at the earliest. Officials said this will give them more time to analyze propellant and leak problems that struck Boeing’s Starliner capsule after its takeoff in June, is the first with a crew on board.

Tuesday marked the two month point on the space station for Starliner test pilots, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, which was supposed to be back in mid-June. NASA is evaluating all of its options for returning the two veteran astronauts, including a ride home in a SpaceX capsule.

“NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate spacecraft readiness and no decision has been made regarding Starliner’s return,” NASA said in a statement. More details were expected at a press conference scheduled for Wednesday.

Only two docking ports on the space station can accommodate American astronaut capsules, and right now, both are occupied. Therefore, one of them will need to be vacated before the next SpaceX crew can arrive. Russia has its own parking locations for its Soyuz capsules.

The latest setback means the four astronauts who flew with SpaceX in March also now face a longer mission than planned.

In recent weeks, Boeing has conducted thruster tests on the ground as well as in space to better understand why five thrusters failed before Starliner arrived at the space station on June 6. All but one have come back online. Helium leaks in the capsule’s propulsion system also emerged.

Citing the tests, the company said late last week: “Boeing remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to safely return with a crew.”

Boeing and SpaceX topped NASA’s list for taxi services for astronauts to and from the space station, after the shuttles were retired in 2011. NASA signed contracts worth billions with both companies to have a backup in case a of them was removed by an accident.

SpaceX launched its first crew in 2020; the upcoming flight will be the tenth astronaut flight for NASA. It also put some private crews into orbit.

Boeing has had to overcome several Starliner problems over the years. The company had to launch an empty Starliner twice before hiring a crew, repeating the initial flight test due to bad software and other problems. The delays cost the company more than $1 billion.

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