Falcon 9 launching on July 8, 2024 from Cape Canaveral Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusvill
The Federal Aviation Administration, the agency responsible for commercial spaceflight, has announced that SpaceX may resume regular launches of Falcon 9.
The FAA notified SpaceX on Oct. 11 that the Falcon 9 vehicle is authorized to return to regular flight operations. The FAA reviewed and accepted the SpaceX-led investigation findings and corrective actions for the mishap that occurred with the Crew-9 mission (Sept. 28).
Also on Oct. 11, FAA closed the SpaceX-led investigations for the Falcon 9 mishaps that occurred with the Starlink 9-3 (July 11) and Starlink 8-6 (Aug. 28) missions.
The FAA, October 11, 2024
Why Falcon 9 Was Grounded By The FAA
After launching NASA’s Crew 9 mission with Cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov and NASA Astronaut Nick Hague aboard Crew Dragon on their mission to the International Space Station on September 28, 2024, the second stage of Falcon 9 separated from the capsule and was later commanded to fire its engine one last time in order for it to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. A specific area in the Pacific Ocean was targeted so as to minimize any risk of surviving debris causing injuries or property damage.
FAA Headquarters Photo: The FAA
Due to what SpaceX labeled as an “off-nominal de-orbit burn” the second stage used for the Crew 9 flight missed its landing area, resulting in SpaceX announcing nearly immediately that it had experienced an anomaly and that it was grounding the vehicle while it investigated the issue. On September 29, the FAA announced that was requiring an investigation and that until complete, the federal agency would not issue the vehicle any new launch licenses. In effect, this “grounded” Falcon 9.
The FAA did grant SpaceX a license for the ESA Hera launch on October 7, saying that there was no risk to public safety because the mission did not dispose of its second stage by deorbiting it in Earth’s atmosphere.
Falcon 9 flying to space on September 29, 2024. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Overnight, SpaceX announced that it had experienced an anomaly with the Falcon 9 second stage used to launch Crew 9 on September 28, and that it was grounding the vehicle while it investigated the issue:
At the time of this writing, the Federal Administration Administration (FAA) has not commented on this matter, or whether it would formally withhold launch licensing from Falcon 9 while SpaceX completed its investigation.
Crew 9 Proceeding As Planned
Roscosmos Cosmonaut Alexsandr Gurbonov, left, and NASA Astronaut Nick Hague. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Notably, this incident occurred after Commander Nick Hague and Mission Specialist Alexsandr Gurbonov had separated from the second stage, and beforehand, the stage had provided a nominal orbital insertion for them aboard Crew Dragon and Crew 9. That mission continues with a planned docking at ISS sometime around 5:30 PM EDT today.
So What Happened?
SpaceX’s announcement was sparse on details, however the problem was explained well by Dr. Jonathon McDowell of the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
McDowell said X.com earlier this morning that the Falcon 9 second stage used yesterday did not deorbit as planned and probably came down east of New Zealand sometime overnight:
So where did the Crew-9 second stage come down? Here is the ground track of Crew-9 based on the TLE (orange) and the planned stage 2 deorbit area (white rectangle) pic.twitter.com/gBFlY2f9dJ
McDowell, who meticulously maintains a list of all launches and other space events, added on X.com, “The most likely failure mode that still results in reentry is a slight underburn (less delta-V, higher resulting perigee). If you underburn too much the perigee will be too high for reentry to occur. So you expect the entry to be further along the orange line but not by too much.”
He added in a successive post, “Here is the ground track showing the planned reentry area at bottom left. My analysis suggests that an off nominal deorbit that still ends up with stage reentry will impact on the orange line somewhere between the end of the white rectangle and the equator.”
The orbital ground track of Falcon 9’s second stage after the Crew 9 launch on September 28, 2024. Graphic: Dr. Jonathan McDowell on X.com
Practical Effects
SpaceX is known to complete its investigations quickly, and if it is not restricted from launching by the FAA, one can expect them to investigate and remediate the problems with the Falcon 9 second stages with alacrity. The chances, however, of the FAA requiring a formal investigation and safety determination seems high if the immediate past is any guideline.
Crew 9 Stage 2 on September 29, 2024 Photo: SpaceX, via NASA Livestream
It’s unknown if yesterday’s issue and the one on July 11th are related in any way, and any conjecture that they are is just guesswork at this point. Short of SpaceX announcing that there is any relationship between the Jully 11 issue and the one this morning on September 29, no one knows one exists. That said, it is a second problem in 2024 with the second stage of the venerable Falcon 9.
The FAA has yet to make any public comments regarding today’s SpaceX announcement, but it would not be surprising if they were to formally require a new public safety determination for the incident SpaceX described this morning.
Practical Effects
SpaceX has multiple launches upcoming on its immediate manifest, including the Europa Clipper on Falcon Heavy, which is planned to fly NET October 10 from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also have the HERA mission scheduled for NET October 7, a mission for OneWeb NET October 1st and a few Starlink mission interspersed in between. As always, SpaceX is busy.
technicians working to complete operations prior to propellant load for NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2024. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Those launch dates are reasonably in question as a result of the Crew 9 issue, as all are within a fifteen-day window of time, if using the July 2024 Falcon 9 second stage issue is any guideline.
None of that is set in stone, however, and this is a very fluid situation on Sunday, September 29th.
Crew 9 Astronauts Aleksandr Vladimirovich Gorbunov and Nick Hague greeted reporters and NASA personnel yesterday at the old Shuttle Landing Facility at KSC. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
The NASA/SpaceX Crew 9 astronauts have arrived at Kennedy Space Center.
Crew 9 Final Preparations Set To Begin.
After landing on a chartered Gulfstream G-550 flight from Houston, the crew will begin final preparations for their upcoming flight aboard a Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon to the International Space Station, slated to launch no earlier than Thursday, September 26th, at 02:05 PM EDT.
They were greeted by Kelvin Manning, deputy director, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and Dana Hutcherson, deputy program manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program as well as a large contingent of reporters.
After answering questions from the press, Hague and Gorbunov left to enter quarantine at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at KSC. They will also complete a dry dress rehearsal of the mission, will align their resting and waking periods to match mission requirements and will also practive other launch and free-flight procedures that will be needed during the early part of their mission.
Aleksandr Vladimirovich Gorbunov and NASA Astronaut Nick Hague greeted reporters and @NASA personnel yesterday at the old Shuttle Landing Facility at KSC. They launch NET Thursday 2:06 PM EDT. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Dana Hutcherson gave more information on pre-launch preparations, “Our teams will also gather on Monday for the flight readiness review ahead of the launch. This launch will mark the first time a human spaceflight mission will lift off from Space Launch Complex 40, and our NASA and SpaceX teams have been working hand in hand with our Space Force mission partners. This is a huge increase in capability for us. With two pads now rated for human spaceflight, we now have operational flexibility with SpaceX to deconflict launches at both 39 A and SLC 40.”
An uncrewed Falcon 9 launching from Space Launch Complex 40. The site has seen over 250 launches through the years, but never a crewed flight. That will change as soon as this week. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Integration Of Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams Into Crew 9
Due to issues with the Boeing Crewed Flight test and the subsequent shift of CFT astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Expedition 72 and Crew 9, the two astronauts who flew to ISS aboard Starliner will be returning to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon — a spacecraft neither of the two have previous flight experience with.
This reporter asked Crew 9 Commander Nick Hague when the integration of the two members would start:
Nick Hague comments on integrating the two Crew 9 astronauts already on Crew 9 Video via NASA liverstream. Members of the press waiting for Crew-9s arrival. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvilleThe crew and support personnel arriving at KSC’s SLF on September 22, 2024 aboard a Gulfstream G-550 charter flight. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
In a letter to leaders of the relevant Congressional committees that manage commercial space activities and their subsequent regulation, SpaceX informed the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transport (AST) of what it labels as “relatively minor license updates, with no bearing on public safety” with sufficient notice that the FAA should have been able to process the changes long before any alleged violations took place.
SpaceX also reiterated its commitment to safety multiple times in the letter. This is borne out by its very long record of conducting launches safely, not only in terms of the general public’s safety but also the safety of the operational launch pads in Florida and the federal facilities they are within.
Recap of Proposed Fines
To recap, the FAA proposed fines for what it deemed as violations of SpaceX’s launch licenses:
That SpaceX operated a launch using an unapproved communications plan for the June 18, 2023 PSN MFS Satria launch.
The launch was conducted from the company’s new launch control center at HangarX on Roberts Road at KSC rather than their previous LCC located adjacent to the Space Florida’s offices just outside the security gates at the south end of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
That the company did not conduct required launch readiness polling two hours prior to the PSN MFS Satria launch.
That the company operated an unapproved propellant farm for launch from LC-39A.
In response, SpaceX stated that they had given adequate notice of the communications plan changes and that the FAA was unreasonably slow in processing the submitted changes. The company noted that it had sent the revisions on May 2, 2023, that it asked for feedback and progress updates on several occasions and that when the FAA stated there were “too many [changes]” for it to complete the review of the new plan by the targeted date.
In response, SpaceX states that they submitted a greatly simplified plan revision that changed only the LCC location. They add that the FAA failed to review this new plan by saying that “SpaceX had not provided it with enough notice” — despite the original plan being submitted some six weeks earlier.
T-Minus Two Hour Launch Readiness Poll
The FAA alleged that SpaceX did not conduct a required readiness poll at the T-minus two-hour mark for the PSN MFS Satria launch on June 18, 2023.
SpaceX’s reply was simple: there is no requirement in the regulations for a two-hour poll and that it conducted the necessary readiness poll later in the countdown prior to propellant loading on the launch vehicle.
Propellant Farm
In their notification of the proposed fines, the FAA stated that SpaceX utilized an unapproved propellant farm at Launch Complex 39-A prior to the Echostar 23 launch.
SpaceX states that it moved the propellant farm to a safer location inside the security perimeter of LC-39A (while KSC is secured, the launch pads are fenced with a higher level of security within) the pad area. They also noted that the move had been approved by Federal Range Safety authorities prior to its first use, and finally that the FAA approved a waiver for this move less than a month later prior to the Crew-7 launch.
They also point out that the FAA is “on console” (in the launch control loop) for these launches and despite the company using an “unapproved” propellant farm that the FAA raised no objection and allowed the launch to proceed.
SpaceX Implies The Need For Congressional Intervention
By sending their responses to Congress, it is clear that SpaceX is deeply frustrated at the pace the FAA is processing launch licenses and license updates. They say as much when they say that “for well over a year now, SpaceX has voiced its concerns with the FAA’s inability to keep pace with the commercial space industry.”
Without saying so in the letter, it is also clear that SpaceX is calling on Congress to act, either by providing the FAA with more resources to process launch licenses in a more timely manner, or to streamline the license process in order for it to move faster, or most likely, both.
Whether Congress will act on this remains to be seen.
SpaceX’s September 18 Letter
For those interested in reading the letter SpaceX counsel sent to Congress:
View of the Earth as seen from Polaris Dawn capsule Crew Dragon ‘Resilience’ Photo: Polaris Program via X.com
Polaris Dawn has not wasted any time setting new spaceflight records.
Highest Orbit Ever: 1400.7 km
During ther first two days of their spaceflight, astronauts Sara Gillis, Jared Isaacman, Anna Menon and Scott “Kid” Poteet have set a new record for the highest crewed orbital spaceflight and 1,400 km, or 870 miles, above Earth’s surface. That broke Gemini 11 and NASA Astronaut Pete Conrad’s 1,373 km or 853 miles record set in 1966.
On Discovery’s middeck, the STS-31 crew poses for a traditional in-flight portrait. Astronaut Loren J. Shriver, mission commander, is at lower left. Astronaut Charles F. Bolden, pilot, floats above. Others, left to right, are Kathryn D. Sullivan, Bruce McCandless II and Steven A. Hawley, all mission specialists. Photo credit: NASA
At the same time, Gillis and Menon became the highest-flying female astronauts, a notable achievement in its own right. The previous record holder was NASA Astronaut Kathryn Sullivan, who reached an altitude of 621 km, or 386 miles, aboard the Space Shuttle orbiter Discovery on the STS-31 mission that deployed the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990.
Most Humans In Orbit: 19
Polaris Dawn’s astronauts are also part of the list of most people in orbit in human history, which was set today with the launch of Soyuz MS-26 carrying two Russian cosmonauts and NASA Astronaut Don Pettit to the International Space Station. That makes nineteen people in orbit, breaking the previous record of 17 set in 2023:
Soyuz MS-26: Don Pettit, Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, aboard ISS
Crew 8: Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, Alexander Grebenkin, aboard ISS
Soyuz MS-25: Oleg Kononenko, Tracy Dyson, Nikolai Chub, aboard ISS
Shenzou 18: Li Guangsu, Li Cong, Ye Guangfu, aboard Tiangong
Polaris Dawn: Sarah Gillis, Jared Isaacman, Anna Menon, Scott Poteet, in flight
Mission Update: September 11, 2024
Polaris Dawn Flight Day 1 Update
The Polaris Dawn crew completed their first day on-orbit, also known as Flight Day 1. After a successful launch by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:23 a.m. ET, the… pic.twitter.com/pcmEF5k2S3
Late in the afternoon, the crew of Polaris Dawn released this update:
Orbiting Earth on board Dragon, the Polaris Dawn crew talked with families of @FoldsofHonor, an organization providing educational scholarships to spouses and children of America's fallen and disabled military service-members and first responders 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/1lY7Tz2ssd
Polaris Dawn crew: Commander Jared Isaacman, left, and Anna Menon, Sarah Gillis and Scott Poteet to the right. Photo: Jon Kraus / Polaris Dawn
The two records Polaris Dawn has broken are both long-standing, and both new records are reminiscent of the early days in aviation when new records were set with regularity.
People know Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart for their first trans-Atlantic flights. They are also probably familiar with some of Howard Hughes’ aviation achievements; he not only built and designed record-breaking aircraft but often flew them himself.
There are other less famous names who have set aviation records. You may not know of pioneers like Rudolph W. “Shorty” Schroeder, who reached a world-record height of 33,114 feet in 1920, or Jacqueline Cochran, the first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound, among many other records she set.
Jacqueline Cochran Via: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
All those people — and many others — were pioneering trailblazers who raised the bar, and now the Polaris Dawn crew has joined that small, elite club.
Their records will eventually be broken — for example, Christina Koch will achieve the farthest a woman has traveled from the Earth when she orbits the moon aboard Artemis II, and some crew will eventually orbit higher than 1,400 km above the Earth surface. That will be progress, and it will not diminish the progress Polaris Dawn has made.
Records are made to be broken and that’s exactly what Polaris Dawn is doing while it’s in space.
After several days of frustrating weather that kept the mission on the ground, SpaceX and the crew of Polaris Dawn were able to thread the needle through a rainy night and launch their five-day mission this morning from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center.
SpaceX plans to launch Polaris Dawn early tomorrow morning from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center, with four astronauts aboard a Crew Dragon.
The launch is scheduled for 3:38 AM EDT, with two additional launch opportunities within a four-hour window at 5:23 AM EDT and 7:09 AM EDT. If, for some reason, the launch does not happen tomorrow morning, backup opportunities are available on Wednesday, September 11th at the same times.
Polaris Dawn on the launch pad. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX plans to launch Polaris Dawn early tomorrow morning from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center, with four astronauts aboard a Crew Dragon.
The launch is scheduled for 3:38 AM EDT, with two additional launch opportunities within a four-hour window at 5:23 AM EDT and 7:09 AM EDT. If, for some reason, the launch does not happen tomorrow morning, backup opportunities are available on Wednesday, September 11th at the same times.
Falcon 9 on the launch mount at LC-39A with a storm approaching from the west this morning. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Booster B1083 will be making its fourth flight on this mission. It has been in service since March, 2024 when it launched the Crew-8 mission from KSC. Its two other flights were Starlink missions.
At A Glance
Mission: Polaris Dawn
Date: NET September 10, 2024
Launch Window: 03:38 AM – 07:09 AM EDT*
Weather: 40% Go during the primary launch window
Organization: SpaceX / Polaris Program
Rocket: Falcon 9
Trajectory: Northeast
Launch Site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center
Booster Landing: ASDS ‘ Just Read the Instructions’
Payload: Crew Dragon ‘Resilience’ with four crew members
The US Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron has slightly less than a 50/50 chance that weather will be acceptable for tomorrow morning’s launch attempt, rating the Probability Of Violation at 60%. They also list moderate concerns through the ascent corridor, where good conditions are critical in the event of a launch abort.
via the 45th Weather Squadron. Retrieved 3:00 PM EDT September 9, 2024
Trajectory
Northeastwards, at around 51.8 degrees.
Launch spectators on the southeastern coast may get a view of the launch as it ascends from Kennedy Space Center — depending on local conditions and clouds between them and the rocket.
Payload
Crew Dragon Resilience, with four astronauts aboard: Jared Isaacman, Mission Commander; Scott “Kidd” Poteet, Mission Pilot; Sarah Gillis, Mission Specialist; and Anna Menon, Mission Specialist and Medical Officer.
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Polaris Dawn. This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage will start about 3.5 hours prior to liftoff.
Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link
For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.
Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.
Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.
Launch Viewing: In Person
Given that this is a launch from Kennedy Space Center with no booster return to the Cape, Max Brewer Bridge and the northern Tistusville parks on Washington Avenue (US1) are your best bets: Space View Park, Rotary Riverview Park and others.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Canaveral National Seashore will be closed for the evening, but if the launch pushes past 6AM EDT, those areas should be open.
The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is seen after it landed in White Sands, New Mexico, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. Photo: NASA
In anticipation of the uncrewed return of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station (ISS), NASA held a pre-departure briefing on Wednesday, September 4, from its Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The briefing featured Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, Dana Weigel, manager of the ISS at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and ISS Flight Director Anthony Vareha. The officials shared critical updates and a refined timeline for Starliner’s return mission to Earth, which is scheduled to take place on Friday, September 6.
Revised Timeline for Starliner’s Return
NASA’s Steve Stich
Photo: from NASA Livestream
NASA’s Steve Stich outlined the step-by-step process for Starliner’s return to Earth. The sequence of events will begin approximately 45 minutes before the spacecraft undocks from the ISS, when a “go/no-go” poll will be conducted, factoring in conditions at the designated landing site in White Sands, New Mexico. Once cleared, undocking is expected at 6:04 p.m. EDT, with springs instantly pushing the spacecraft away from the ISS.
A short thruster burn will follow 30 seconds later, designed to further separate Starliner from the ISS. At approximately 11:17 p.m. EDT, the spacecraft will execute a de-orbit burn lasting around 60 seconds, setting it on course for re-entry. The spacecraft is expected to touch down at the White Sands landing site at 12:04 a.m. EDT on Saturday, September 7, roughly six hours after undocking.
While this return mission will be uncrewed, NASA says it will still gather critical data simulating a crewed flight. The spacecraft is outfitted with accelerometers and sensors in the seats that will measure forces akin to those experienced by astronauts during re-entry and landing. Additionally, the interior of Starliner will record environmental data, such as pressure and temperature fluctuations, which will be vital for evaluating the vehicle’s performance and safety.
NASA has scheduled a post-landing press conference to take place at approximately 1:30 a.m. EDT, offering a chance to assess the spacecraft’s return and discuss any pertinent findings from the mission.
Backup Dates in Case of Weather Delays
Given the inherent unpredictability of New Mexico’s weather, NASA has prepared contingency dates in case poor weather—such as strong winds or rain—interferes with the planned landing. Backup opportunities are spaced four days apart, providing flexibility to ensure safe touchdown conditions.
Suit Compatibility
A SpaceX Flight Suit Photo: SpaceX via NASA
An interesting logistical challenge has emerged as the Starliner saga has unfolded the space suits designed for astronauts aboard different spacecraft. The Boeing suits that were worn by NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams during their ride up to the ISS will return to Earth with the uncrewed Starliner. However, Boeing’s space suits are incompatible with SpaceX spacecraft.
To address this, NASA has provided Wilmore and Williams with SpaceX suits for their planned return to Earth aboard the Crew-9 mission, scheduled for late February or early March 2025. Williams has already tested one of the SpaceX suits currently aboard the ISS, confirming a proper fit. Meanwhile, a second suit will be sent up to the ISS on a future Crew-9 resupply mission for Wilmore.
NASA also confirmed that, in case of an emergency, Wilmore and Williams could be evacuated aboard Crew-8 in the cargo pallet area. However, they would not have access to space suits in this scenario, which raises additional safety concerns.
Starliner Mission and Crew’s Accomplishments
Since their arrival aboard the ISS, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have conducted at least 42 scientific experiments, dedicating over 100 hours to research. Their work spans a wide range of disciplines, helping to advance knowledge in areas such as biology, physics, and space technologies. Additionally, they have maintained a rigorous schedule of physical fitness, incorporating resistance training and cardio exercises to counteract the physical toll of extended periods in microgravity.
Both astronauts are reported to be in excellent health and spirits, frequently staying in touch with their families through NASA’s robust communication network. Their stay aboard the ISS will continue until their return with Crew-9 next year.
Thruster Concerns and Starliner Certification Delay
A potential concern involves one of Starliner’s thrusters, which NASA suspects may not be fully operational. Fortunately, the spacecraft is equipped with 21 other functioning thrusters, providing redundancy and ensuring Starliner can safely complete its mission.
NASA also discussed Starliner’s future certification plans. Originally, Boeing had planned for another Starliner mission in February 2025. However, due to technical issues and delays, that mission has now been postponed to August 2025. This additional time will allow NASA and Boeing to address any outstanding concerns, ensure that Starliner meets all necessary safety requirements, and improve its operational capabilities for future crewed missions.
The Road Ahead for Boeing and NASA
As Boeing and NASA continue to collaborate on refining the Starliner program, the upcoming uncrewed return will serve as a critical milestone. While the spacecraft’s journey back to Earth lacks astronauts on board, it represents a significant test of Starliner’s systems, readiness, and overall capability. The data gathered from this mission will inform future crewed flights, solidifying Starliner’s place as a key player in NASA’s commercial spaceflight program.
With an eye toward 2025 and beyond, Boeing and NASA are working diligently to ensure that Starliner can eventually operate as a reliable transportation system for astronauts. Despite the delays and challenges, the program remains an integral part of NASA’s broader vision for commercial partnerships and the future of human space exploration.
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