The upcoming NASA and SpaceX launch of the Crew-9 mission heading to the International Space Station (ISS) may be delayed according to the latest reports. It was revealed that the reason behind this would be because of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft which is still docked to the ISS, and NASA has yet to reach an agreement with Boeing regarding its return flight.
It was regarded that there might be a risk that Starliner brings should it proceed to its return mission, especially as it was not yet decided by the Flight Readiness Review, also because of delays.
NASA, SpaceX Crew-9 Launch to Face Delay Because of Starliner
SpaceX
According to the latest report by Ars Technica, NASA and its officials are already deciding on whether to delay the upcoming Crew-9 mission that would be fulfilled by SpaceX to a later date. There are still no official announcements from NASA regarding this delay, as it is currently being decided by the agency if the Crew-9 mission will take place this August 18.
It was revealed that from August 18, Crew-9's launch would take place come September 24, with SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Falcon to bring the latest batch to the ISS.
This includes the likes of NASA's Zena Cardman, Nick Hague, and Stephanie Wilson, alongside Roscosmos cosmonaut, Alexander Gorbunov who would all fulfill a six-month stay.
What is Happening Over at Boeing Starliner's Return?
It was revealed that NASA is still deciding on whether Boeing's Starliner would make its return to the planet, with the Flight Readiness Review last week seeing delays. There is still an important factor, centering on the small reaction control system of the Starliner, and should it fail if it has not yet reached a safe distance, Boeing's spacecraft may collide with the ISS.
NASA's Commercial Crew: Boeing and SpaceX
NASA's famed Commercial Crew program has two main third-party space companies that will fulfill its missions, with Boeing and SpaceX selected by the agency for expanding the US' space race campaign.
Boeing has not yet fulfilled any of the missions under the contract as its Starliner spacecraft is still in its testing stage, and it most recently docked to the ISS after facing several issues in its flight, and is staying there until it is given the green light.
On the other hand, Elon Musk's SpaceX has fulfilled the missions assigned by NASA under the Commercial Crew since its first outing in 2020. Now, it is preparing for an August launch window for its upcoming mission, Crew-9, which will bring another batch of astronauts and other crew members to the ISS, famously being prioritized by SpaceX over the Polaris Dawn.
Despite being SpaceX's top priority now and pushing back other missions for Crew-9, another mission stands in its way, and this is the much-awaited return of Starliner together with Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. A possible delay to NASA and SpaceX's Crew-9 may soon be announced, pushing back because of Starliner, and targeting late September for the mission.
