NASA managers speak during a news conference at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on August 24, 2024, to discuss plans for two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station.
Mark Felix | AFP | Getty Images
NASA said on Friday it would replace two crew members on an upcoming SpaceX flight to accommodate two astronauts who have arrived at the International Space Station. boeing companyA defective Starship capsule.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both former military test pilots who launched aboard the Starliner spacecraft in June, will succeed Zena Card Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson on a SpaceX mission.
Last week, NASA officials deemed problems with Starliner’s propulsion system too risky to bring home the first crew as planned, dealing a major blow to Boeing’s troubled space program.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, initially scheduled to launch four astronauts to the International Space Station on August 18, has completed its mission, known as Crew-9, Reschedule NASA “no earlier than” September 24th.
Cadman and Wilson, who were originally selected as mission commanders, remain eligible for reassignment to future missions, NASA said in a news release.
Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov will remain as crew members and fly back with Wilmore and Williams in February 2025.
The space agency said Hague, who was originally designated as pilot, will now take over as commander, while Gorbunov will retain his role as mission specialist.
NASA’s decision to invite Boeing Co.’s chief space rival SpaceX to return astronauts marks another setback for the embattled U.S. plane maker and one of its most important decisions in years.
Boeing is pinning its space hopes on the success of its Starliner test mission, hoping to salvage the troubled program after years of development challenges.
About The Author
