NASA has announced a significant crew reassignment for its upcoming mission to the International Space Station (ISS), shifting astronauts from Boeing’s troubled Starliner spacecraft to a SpaceX mission scheduled for September.
In a statement released on Friday, NASA confirmed that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who arrived at the ISS in June aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule, will now join the SpaceX Crew Dragon mission. They replace Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, who remain eligible for future assignments.
The decision comes after NASA officials identified propulsion system issues with the Starliner, deeming it too risky to return its crew as initially planned. This setback marks another challenge for Boeing’s space program, which has faced years of development difficulties.
The SpaceX mission, initially slated for August 18, has been rescheduled to no earlier than September 24. The new crew lineup includes Nick Hague stepping in as mission commander, with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov maintaining his role as mission specialist. The team is expected to return to Earth in February 2025 alongside Wilmore and Williams.
NASA’s move to utilize SpaceX, Boeing’s main competitor, underscores the ongoing challenges facing Boeing’s efforts in space exploration. The aerospace giant had hoped the success of the Starliner test mission would revive its space program, but the recent complications have further delayed progress.
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NASA reassigns astronauts to SpaceX mission ahead of September launch
cgtn.com
