(NewsNation) — Issues that stranded two astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) are delaying another mission slated to begin Aug. 18.
Space Force Col. Tyler N. Hague was set to pilot NASA’s Crew-9 mission aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft for a six-month mission to the ISS. Takeoff has since been pushed back to at least September 24 after mechanical issues prolonged what was scheduled as an eight-day trip to the ISS left two Starliner astronauts stranded in space for more than two months.
Astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams were on board Boeing’s Starliner when it launched on June 5. A series of malfunctions affecting propulsive devices on the ship have prevented the pair from returning to Earth.
Delaying the launch of Crew-9’s mission will free up time to finalize a return plane for the Starliner crew while NASA and Boeing evaluate the spacecraft’s readiness, the agency said in a statement.
No decisions have been made regarding Starliner’s return.