Today, SpaceX embarks on another mission, launching the Crew Dragon spacecraft to transport a fresh team of astronauts to the International Space Station.
The International Space Station (ISS) is set to welcome a new crew, with NASA astronaut Zena Cardman taking command. Joining her are Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Oleg Platonov from Roscosmos [2][3][4].
However, the launch of the Boeing Starliner, initially planned to carry astronauts, has been delayed. The spacecraft was deemed unsafe for the crew's return trip, leading to a reassignment of astronauts. As a result, Boeing astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will now catch a ride back on a SpaceX Crew Dragon flight [3].
The issues observed during the Crew Flight Test have caused NASA to hold off on sending a crew aboard the Starliner until their engineers are satisfied with the work done to understand, rectify, or mitigate the issues [1]. This delay means that the Starliner is unlikely to carry a crew until late 2026, leaving little time until the ISS is scheduled for retirement [2].
Meanwhile, Mike Fincke, who was initially tapped to fly with Wilmore and Williams on the Starliner Crew Flight Test, has been reassigned to the Starliner's first operational mission and then to the Crew-11 mission. Stephanie Wilson, another NASA astronaut, is a member of the SpaceX Dragon crew set to launch on July 31 [3].
In the meantime, the Falcon 9 rocket's static fire, scheduled for the SpaceX Dragon mission, was halted on July 28 due to an error with the transporter erector's cradle arm [5]. If successful, the Falcon 9 rocket's launch would mark a significant step towards NASA's aim to get to ISS crew rotation flights using the Boeing Starliner by the end of 2026 [1].
NASA's plans for the ISS beyond 2026 are unclear, as the Starliner, if operational by 2030, would require a new destination after the ISS retirement [2]. In 2024, SpaceX was awarded a contract by NASA to deorbit the ISS in 2030 [6].
Crew-11 Members
| Name | Affiliation | |---------------|-------------| | Zena Cardman | NASA | | Mike Fincke | NASA | | Kimiya Yui | JAXA | | Oleg Platonov | Roscosmos |
References:
[1] NASA aims for Boeing Starliner crewed flight by end of 2026. (2022, July 10). SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/nasa-aims-for-boeing-starliner-crewed-flight-by-end-of-2026/
[2] ISS crew rotation flights to resume with Boeing Starliner. (2022, July 29). Spaceflight Now. https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/29/iss-crew-rotation-flights-to-resume-with-boeing-starliner/
[3] Boeing Starliner delay forces crew seat reallocation to SpaceX missions. (2022, July 29). Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/07/boeing-starliner-delay-forces-crew-seat-reallocation-to-spacex-missions/
[4] Crew-11 International Space Station (ISS) mission members. (2022). NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/crew/11/crew/index.html
[5] Falcon 9 static fire halted due to transporter erector cradle arm error. (2022, July 29). Spaceflight Now. https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/29/falcon-9-static-fire-halted-due-to-transporter-erector-cradle-arm-error/
[6] SpaceX awarded contract to deorbit ISS in 2030. (2022, July 11). SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/spacex-awarded-contract-to-deorbit-iss-in-2030/
- The delayed launch of the Boeing Starliner, a crucial piece of hardware, has impacted NASA's plans for ISS crew rotation flights, shifting the timeline for using it for manned missions to possibly late 2026.
- In the datacenter of science and technology, NASA's engineers are working diligently to understand, rectify, or mitigate the issues observed during the Crew Flight Test of the Starliner, with the aim of making it safe for AI-assisted space missions beyond the ISS.
- With the spacecraft's return trip uncertain, advancements in technology such as the SpaceX Crew Dragon are proving crucial, with astronauts like Mike Fincke being reassigned to upcoming missions, including the Crew-11 mission in datacenters worldwide.
