NASA Refines Crew-9 Selection to Include Astronauts Stationed on the ISS, According to Reuters

NASA announced on Friday that it will replace two crew members for an upcoming SpaceX mission following the complications faced by astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) who arrived via Boeing’s flawed Starliner capsule.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both experienced military test pilots who launched with the Starliner in June, will take the place of Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson for the SpaceX flight.

Last week, NASA officials determined that problems with the Starliner’s propulsion system presented too significant a risk to return the first crew as originally planned, presenting another setback for Boeing’s troubled space program.

The launch of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, which was scheduled to send four astronauts to the ISS on August 18, has now been postponed by NASA to occur “no earlier than” September 24.

While Cardman, who was selected as the mission’s commander, and Wilson, the mission specialist, will not be part of this flight, they remain eligible for future missions, according to NASA’s announcement.

Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will continue as part of the crew and will return alongside Wilmore and Williams in February 2025. Hague, who was originally set to serve as pilot, will now take over as commander, while Gorbunov will maintain his role as mission specialist.

The decision to utilize SpaceX for the return of the astronauts marks another challenge for Boeing and represents one of NASA’s most critical decisions in recent years. Boeing had been relying on the success of the Starliner test mission to restore its reputation following years of developmental difficulties.