NASA is delaying its next astronaut launch to buy more time at the International Space Station for Boeing’s troubled new crew capsule.
The space agency said Tuesday it’s bumping SpaceX’s four-person flight from this month to next. It’s now targeted for Sept. 24 at the earliest. Officials said that will give them more time to analyze thruster and leak problems that hit Boeing’s Starliner capsule after its June liftoff, its first with a crew on board.
Tuesday marked the two-month point at the space station for Starliner’s test pilots, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who should have been back by mid-June. NASA is weighing all its options for returning the two veteran astronauts, including a ride home in a SpaceX capsule.
You are misunderstanding, NASA will do exactly as you said if they need to. But they are a science and RnD organization, so they are focused on working on and attempting to resolve the problems that starliner has.
When they are satisfied with the data they have collected from the craft they will make a decision on how to return the crew and dispose of starliner.