SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship took off with an unusual payload on Saturday, carrying only two astronauts instead of its typical four-person crew.
According to Business Insider, this unconventional launch is the result of a challenging safety decision made by NASA following issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. The mission aims to bring home two Boeing astronauts who have been stuck in space for months. The launch marks a significant setback for Boeing's space program and highlights the growing disparity between SpaceX and Boeing in the race to provide reliable transportation for astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS).
In June, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams became the first to fly aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Their mission was intended to be a crucial test flight to demonstrate the ship's readiness for regular human spaceflight.
However, the Starliner experienced thruster problems as it approached the ISS shortly after launch. While the spacecraft managed to dock successfully and the astronauts reached the station safely, concerns about the thrusters' performance during the return journey led NASA to make a difficult decision.
After weeks of testing and analysis, NASA officials determined that they could not risk the astronauts' lives by having them return on the Starliner. In an unprecedented move, the agency sent the spacecraft back to Earth without its crew.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft launched on Saturday carried astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov to the ISS. Upon arrival, Wilmore and Williams will join their mission, known as Crew-9, and complete an extended stay on the station.
This unexpected turn of events means that Wilmore and Williams will not return to Earth until February 2025 at the earliest, significantly extending their original eight-day mission plan. The situation has also affected two other NASA astronauts, Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, who were originally slated to be part of the Crew-9 mission. Instead of launching with their crewmates, they remained on the ground, with their seats now reserved for Wilmore and Williams' eventual return.
The contrast between SpaceX and Boeing's progress in NASA's Commercial Crew Program has become increasingly apparent. SpaceX's Crew Dragon has been successfully transporting astronauts to and from the ISS for four years, while Boeing's Starliner has faced numerous delays and technical issues.
NASA granted Boeing $4.2 billion to develop the Starliner, compared to the $2.6 billion awarded to SpaceX for the Crew Dragon. Despite the larger investment, Boeing's spacecraft has lagged behind in both development time and operational success.
While the Starliner completed an uncrewed return to Earth on September 6, landing successfully in the New Mexico desert, its future remains uncertain. NASA has not yet announced whether additional testing will be required before the spacecraft can be certified for regular astronaut rotations. Steve Stich, head of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, stated after the Starliner's landing:
If we'd had a model that would have predicted what we saw tonight perfectly, yeah, it looks like an easy decision to go say we could have had a crewed fight. But we didn't have that.
Despite the unexpected turn of events, both Wilmore and Williams have expressed their commitment to their extended mission. In a call with reporters on September 13, they acknowledged the personal sacrifices involved but emphasized that such challenges are part of their job as astronauts.
Wilmore stated:
It's a very risky business and things do not always turn out the way you want. 90% of our training is preparing for the unexpected. Because we are pushing the edges of the envelope in everything that we do and it is not easy.
SpaceX's launch of a half-empty Crew Dragon marks a significant moment in the ongoing development of commercial spaceflight. The mission highlights the challenges faced by Boeing's Starliner program and underscores SpaceX's growing dominance in astronaut transportation. As Wilmore and Williams prepare for an extended stay on the ISS, the future of Boeing's role in NASA's Commercial Crew Program remains uncertain.
