– NASA is facing the possibility of congestion aboard the ISS with the presence of stranded Boeing Starliner astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry (Butch) Wilmore
– The upcoming Crew-9 mission is scheduled to depart for space on August 18 and may be delayed or cancelled due to the potential crowding at the ISS
– NASA officials see the increased traffic at the ISS as a sign of progress and positive development
– The return of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft is a priority in order to free up one of the two docking ports at the ISS
– NASA and Boeing are working to resolve technical issues with the Starliner to clear the needed docking port
– Mission managers are not ready to announce a return date for Williams and Wilmore aboard Starliner
– The next mission supported by NASA will be SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, set to launch in August with four astronauts for a six-month shift aboard the ISS.