Time: 2024-08-25
NASA announce that the Boeing Starliner spacecraft , which transport astronaut Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to space in June , will tax_return to Earth without them . The decision was make due to helium leak and pusher issue that were detect shortly after the spacecraft dock with the International Space Station . This uncrewed tax_return will let NASA and Boeing to continue gathering testing data on the Starliner during its approaching flight back to Earth.
The astronaut were initially expect to tax_return after a week - hanker trial flight mission , but now they will tax_return with a SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon mission , schedule for launch no earlier than September 24 . The Crew-9 mission will carry extra cargo and Dragon - particular spacesuit for Wilmore and Williams . Since the issue were identify , technology team have been working on development tax_return eventuality plan for the spacecraft.
NASdministrator Bill Nelson stress the agency 's committedness to safety in the decision to support the astronaut aboard the International Space Station and bring the Starliner home uncrewed . He praise the NASA and Boeing team for their detail work in guarantee the safety of the astronaut during the mission . The uncertainty surround the safe tax_return of the crew on the Starliner light-emitting_diode NASA leadership to move the astronaut to the Crew-9 mission.
Starliner is expect to go from the space station and land back on Earth autonomously in early September . Despite the challenge confront during this mission , NASA and Boeing are confident in the capability of the spacecraft and are concentrate on gathering critical information for future flights.
following the Starliner 's tax_return , NASA will reappraisal all mission - associate data to determine extra action necessitate to meet certification requirement for future flight . The agency is also working on adjust seating on the Crew-9 Dragon and fix extra cargo and spacesuit for the astronaut . The approaching Crew-9 mission will mark the ninth rotational mission to the space station under NASA 's Commercial Crew Program.
NASA 's continue collaboration with commercial company purpose to supply safe and reliable transportation_system to and from the International Space Station , as well as to expand commercial opportunity in low Earth orbit . As the agency fix for future homo exploration mission to the Moon and Mars , the cognition and experience derive from mission like the Boeing Starliner flight will be instrumental in shaping the future of space exploration.