SpaceX’s Crew-9 flight for NASA was presupposed to take off on August 18, however the company has simply introduced that its goal launch date was moved to no sooner than September 24. The delay will give NASA and Boeing extra time to finalize their plans for Boeing Starliner’s return, the company mentioned in its announcement. What it did not say was that whereas eight house ships can connect themselves to the ISS at one time, the US phase of the house station solely has two docking ports that may accommodate astronaut capsules. Each of them are still occupied, since Starliner’s supposed eight-day keep has stretched on for months.
NASA mentioned that Starliner’s floor groups are nonetheless analyzing the outcomes of all of the testing they have been placing the spacecraft by way of, together with a current hot-fire check. They nonetheless want to substantiate if it is able to carry again astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams again to Earth earlier than a return flight could possibly be scheduled. Boeing’s first crewed Starliner mission launched in June and was solely slated to remain for just a few days to find out whether or not it was prepared for normal flights to the station. Nevertheless, 5 of its thrusters failed on its method to the ISS, and just one got here again on-line. The helium leak that compelled Boeing and NASA to push again its takeoff previously had worsened, as nicely.
In a submitting with the US Securities and Change Fee, Boeing revealed that it took another $125 million in losses as a result of Starliner’s delayed return and the in depth testing that needed to be performed to make sure its readiness. The corporate said a few days ago, although, that it helps NASA’s requests for extra testing and that it “stays assured within the Starliner spacecraft and its capacity to return safely with crew.”
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