Will Sunita Williams' Boeing Starliner return before August 18? Know NASA's next move

Sunita William and Butch Willmore (Image Credit: PTI)

NASA has not yet announced the official return date for the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which has astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore on board. The spacecraft has been docked at the International Space Station (ISS) since June 6 and was originally scheduled to return on June 14. However, technical issues have caused repeated delays in its return flight.

With congestion at the ISS becoming a concern due to these delays, NASA is planning to launch the SpaceX Crew-9 mission soon. This makes it crucial to schedule the Starliner's return to avoid overcrowding at the space station.

In a recent update on X, NASA's Commercial Crew Program provided information about its latest mission to the ISS and announced plans for the SpaceX Crew-9 launch. Despite the ongoing delays, NASA officials have assured that the Boeing Starliner astronauts are not stranded in space.

“NASA and SpaceX plan to launch the agency’s SpaceX #Crew9 mission to @Space_Station no earlier than Aug. 18. The international crew will lift off from @NASAKennedy 's Launch Complex 39A aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft,” read the post by NASA Commercial Crew.

NASA and SpaceX plan to launch the agency’s SpaceX #Crew9 mission to @Space_Station no earlier than Aug. 18.

The international crew will lift off from @NASAKennedy's Launch Complex 39A aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft.

Related stories

• 
  Moonquake-induced landslides shaking Moon could threaten lunar bases, Chinese scientists warn
• 
  A massive 420-foot asteroid to zoom past Earth today at high speed, NASA confirms
• 
  NASA’s Webb telescope reveals unprecedented Dark Beads and star-shaped patterns on Saturn

More: https://t.co/QQydb8Eed5 pic.twitter.com/MLjJiEcpbS

— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) July 26, 2024

According to a New York Times report cited by ANI, NASA is dealing with potential congestion at the ISS due to multiple delays. NASA officials noted on July 26 that traffic at the ISS is expected to increase next month. Although the agency has faced operational challenges affecting astronaut transport, NASA sees the anticipated congestion as a sign of progress. Dana Weigel, the ISS program manager at NASA, emphasised the importance of undocking the Starliner soon to free up a port, saying, "I've got to take off a vehicle. And so we plan to undock Starliner first to free up a port."