Posted on 08/07/2024 5:19:28 AM PDT by Red Badger
'This adjustment allows more time for mission managers to finalize return planning for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test currently docked to the orbiting laboratory.'
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SpaceX's next astronaut mission won't get off the ground this month after all.
Crew-9, SpaceX's ninth operational flight to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA, had been targeted to lift off on Aug. 18. But it has been pushed back to no earlier than Sept. 24, the agency announced today (Aug. 6).
"This adjustment allows more time for mission managers to finalize return planning for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test currently docked to the orbiting laboratory," NASA said in an update this afternoon.
Crew Flight Test (CFT) is the first-ever astronaut mission of Boeing's new Starliner capsule. It launched June 5, carrying NASA's Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the ISS for a planned weeklong stay.
Starliner is still up there, however. The capsule experienced several issues on its way to the orbiting lab — most notably, the failure of five of its 28 reaction control system thrusters. CFT team members have been studying the problem ever since, trying to determine if and when Starliner can safely return Williams and Wilmore to Earth.
That work is still underway.
"NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate the spacecraft's readiness, and no decisions have been made regarding Starliner's return," NASA officials said in today's update.
We may get more clarity on Wednesday (Aug. 7): NASA will hold a press conference at 12:30 p.m. EDT (1630 GMT) "with agency leadership to discuss ongoing operations, including NASA's Crew-9, Crew-8, and Crew Flight Test missions."
SpaceX's Crew-8 flight is gearing up to return to Earth; it arrived at the ISS in early March, delivering four astronauts to the orbiting lab for a roughly six-month stay.
The Crew-9 astronauts are commander Zena Cardman, pilot Nick Hague, mission specialist Stephanie Wilson and mission specialist Alexsandr Gorbunov. Cardman, Hague and Wilson are NASA astronauts, whereas Gorbunov represents Russia's space agency, Roscosmos.
“Boeing - a once-proud aviation pioneer and innovator, now slouched over and stumbling about like a drunk.”
Well said, but, of course, that is what “Diversity” hires do.
Being is LOADED with unqualified “diversity” hires from the top down.
If Major Tom were on that piece of junk, he would be a full colonel before any return.
What a mess. Maybe one of the astronauts can undock the craft and then spacewalk back to the ISS?
Boeing is the victim here....of the US federal government that pushes contractors to adopt DEI or else they do not get contracts.
Boeing wanted to avoid the negative press that the US gov’t would create for them if they resisted.
We live in a more and more fascist nation where the entrenched bureaucracy runs the nation and the elected officials are just window dressing.
Because the leaks they are tracking down are on the service module part of the spacecraft. That is the part that burns up.
I am not sure why they cannot come down with the capsule, though. Is the heat shield damaged?
Did you see how happy what’s her name was when she left Starliner and entered the space station now we know why
Did the DEI crew remember to attach the heat shield ?
The real reason why this Crew Dragon launch is being delayed is so it will be available as a rescue craft in case Boeing determines that Starliner cannot safely return to Earth.
It has come to light that the capsule can not return to earth un manned. Further the capsule apparently can’t be detached from the space station unless there is a crew member inside to work the detaching mechanism.
Thanks.
I realize it’s all intricate planning and takes ages but how critical is Crew 9? Is it imperative that they go there?
That’s a whole ‘nother set of problems....................🤔
We will find out soon, NASA will hold a press conference at 12:30 p.m. EDT............................
I noticed that - thanks.
I expect that NASA and Boeing are negotiating with SpaceX for a rescue operation....................
I think Boeing is just trying desperately to avoid having to admit that they’ve failed again. They’re also trying to avoid the embarrassment that having SpaceX rescue their astronauts would bring. But both of those outcomes are as inevitable as the sun rising every 90 minutes while on orbit (see what I did there?).
However, I’ve been wondering for a while now how SpaceX will be able to accommodate two astronauts who have incompatible spacesuits and for whom custom seats don’t exist in the Dragon. Seats are molded to the bodies of individual astronauts, both for comfort and safety. I suppose they can get around that one by installing seats that are as close to their known body dimensions as possible. As far as I know, forces during reentry in Dragon max out around 4 Gs, which would be easily tolerable even if the seat isn’t perfectly fitted. However, I don’t know if they can get around the need to have the spacesuits custom fitted. Maybe it doesn’t matter as much if they’re not going to be moving around much in them, just riding down, but I wonder about things like the suit’s ability to protect them in an emergency from thermal or pressure changes if its fit is only a rough approximation.
“but I wonder about things like the suit’s ability to protect them in an emergency from thermal or pressure changes if its fit is only a rough approximation.”
Space is dangerous even if everything goes perfectly.
Boeing has proved they have no business operating in that kind of zero defect environment.
Just a clarification: I should have been clearer that I was talking about the fact that the crewmembers’ Starliner spacesuits would not be compatible with Dragon, so SpaceX would have to do their best to send up SpaceX suits that would approximate their body dimensions as closely as possible. I also wonder how quickly that could be done since spacesuits are essentially handmade, and I doubt SpaceX keeps spares just lying around. I wonder how long it would take to produce them?
Wow!
I suppose the best thing to do is wait.
/s
More like a breakdown in the middle of a critical off ramp.
I wonder if the right of salvage can be invoked? There is a derelict craft in space. Whoever can claim it, owns it.
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