NASA & SpaceX Delay Crew 9 To September 24 Due To Starliner Mission Delays

NASA and SpaceX are gearing up for the launch of the agency’s Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station, which is now targeted for no earlier than Tuesday, September 24. This new launch date provides additional time for mission managers to finalize return plans for NASA’s Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test, which is currently docked at the orbiting laboratory where Crew 9 needs to dock.

Starliner ground teams are meticulously analyzing recent docked hot-fire testing results, finalizing flight rationale for the spacecraft’s integrated propulsion system, and confirming system reliability in preparation for Starliner’s return to Earth. While NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate the spacecraft’s readiness, no decisions have been made regarding the exact timing of Starliner’s return; and whether or not it will bring its crew home.

The adjustment of the Crew-9 launch date also helps to deconflict the next SpaceX crew rotation with the upcoming Soyuz handover, which is targeted for no earlier than mid-September. Teams are working diligently to ensure that the Crew-9 mission is ready to launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This effort is aimed at avoiding any conflicts with the pad preparations for NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, which will begin this September at nearby Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center.

Additionally, NASA has adjusted the launch date for SpaceX’s 31st commercial resupply services mission to no earlier than mid-October.

To provide updates and discuss ongoing operations, NASA will host a media teleconference at 12:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 7. The teleconference will feature agency leadership and cover topics including NASA’s Crew-9, Crew-8, and Crew Flight Test missions, and will be be covered LIVE on The Launch Pad Youtube channel.

This complex scheduling underscores the intricate coordination required for space missions, involving multiple agencies and a range of technical considerations.