NASA is planning to significantly delay the launch of the Crew 9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) due to ongoing concerns about the Starliner spacecraft currently attached to the station. The space agency has not made a public announcement yet, but according to Eric Berger of Arstechnica.com, his sources indicate that the decision will be revealed this week.
Image Credit: NASA
The Crew 9 mission, originally scheduled for August 18, may be postponed to September 24, a significant delay. The mission aims to carry NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Nick Hague, Stephanie Wilson, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov on a six-month journey to the ISS aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft.
However, NASA is considering alternative crew lineups, possibly launching with two astronauts instead of four, due to concerns about the viability of Starliner to safely return astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth. The Starliner spacecraft, built and operated by Boeing, experienced failures in five of its 32 small thrusters during launch and ascent to the ISS two months ago.
The failed thrusters are part of the Reaction Control System (RCS), which is responsible for attitude control and maneuvering. Although Boeing has conducted extensive ground testing and brief in-space firings, NASA has yet to determine the root cause of the failure.
Furthermore, NASA has identified a software issue with the Starliner's flight software, which currently cannot perform an automated undocking from the ISS and entry into Earth's atmosphere. The software update process is described as "non-trivial" and "significant," taking up to four weeks.
Boeing has been lobbying to bring Starliner home with crew, despite the lack of a root cause for the thruster failure. The company believes it has provided enough data to NASA to be confident the thrusters will not fail catastrophically. However, NASA is prioritizing crew safety and requires further testing and analysis before making a decision.
The Crew 9 delay allows more time to determine the flight-worthiness of Starliner and update its flight software. NASA is also considering alternative scenarios, including returning Wilmore and Williams on a Dragon spacecraft as last resort.
The ISS has two docking ports for crew vehicles, and NASA cannot afford to "brick" one of its two crew docking ports. Therefore, if NASA decides to return Starliner autonomously, it must be certain that the undocking software update will work.
In a recent press release by Boeing, they said "Boeing remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to return safely with crew, "We continue to support NASA’s requests for additional testing, data, analysis and reviews to affirm the spacecraft’s safe undocking and landing capabilities. Our confidence is based on this abundance of valuable testing from Boeing and NASA.", they stated.
The Polaris Dawn mission, a privately-funded spaceflight, is scheduled to launch no earlier than late August 2024. Initially, the launch window was set after the Crew-9 mission, which is scheduled to launch no earlier than August 18. However, due to the recent delays in the Crew-9 mission, Polaris Dawn may potentially fly before Crew-9.
Boeing's costly failures
The Starliner debacle has had a significant impact on Boeing's finances. The company has recorded substantial losses and charges due to the program's delays, including a $257 million loss in the fiscal second quarter of 2023. Additionally, Boeing has faced total charges against earnings of $883 million.
The Starliner project has experienced budget overruns of more than $1.5 billion, with the company facing criticism for the high costs and delays. The fixed-price contract for the program means that Boeing bears the risk of cost overruns, contributing to the financial losses.
The Starliner program has faced numerous delays and technical issues, including problems with parachutes, wiring harnesses, and thrusters. These challenges have led to increased costs and financial losses for Boeing. The company's finances have been impacted significantly, with the Defense, Space and Security business unit reporting a $527 million loss in the fiscal second quarter of 2023.
The financial implications of the Starliner debacle are a concern for Boeing, and the company is working to resolve the issues and get the program back on track. However, the delays and technical problems have already had a substantial impact on Boeing's bottom line, and the company will need to carefully manage the program to minimize further financial losses.
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