NASA has moved two astronauts from their home. Boeing’sSpaceX has sent its first two crewed missions, which will be followed by a SpaceX mission next spring. It is a rare assignment as SpaceX’s Starliner capsule continues to delay development.

U.S. Space Agency announced Wednesday that NASA astronauts Nicole Mann (commander) and Josh Cassada (pilot), will lead SpaceX’s Crew-5 mission for fall 2022.

NASA in August 2018 had assigned the pair to fly on Boeing’s first crewed Starliner missions – with Mann on the Starliner crew flight test and Cassada on the first operational Starliner flight. After three years of preparation to fly Boeing’s capsule in flight, they were the first astronauts to be assigned from one U.S. satellite to the next.

“We are aware of the need for adjustments by NASA to allow members of the astronaut class to fly on an operational vehicle, while Starliner is being developed. In a statement, a Boeing spokesperson stated that they fully support NASA’s decision. He also reiterated their commitment to safety for astronauts flying on the Starliner spacecraft.

NASA still has three astronauts assigned to the Starliner crewed flying test. They are Suni Williams, Mike Fincke and Butch Wilmore. According to NASA, it plans on assigning more Boeing mission astronauts in the “future.”

Ars TechnicaFirst reports that Mann and Cassada might move to Starliner.

Boeing planned to fly the Starliner capsule. the uncrewed OFT-2 mission in August, but issues with a number of the spacecraft’s propulsion valves have delayed the test flight – which represents a redo of Boeing’s uncrewed flight test in December 2019.

Initial flight tests were cut short by a malfunction in the flight control system of the spacecraft. The capsule didn’t make it to the International Space Station according to plan.

Boeing is working with suppliers to determine a launch date for the delayed OFT-2 mission. Aerojet RocketdyneTo fix the problem with your valve.

Boeing will cover the costs of OFT-2. set aside $410 million shortly after the first flight test. Starliner was developed by the company under NASA’s Commercial Crew program. The capsule has been built with contracts worth nearly $5 billion. SpaceX won $3.1B to build its Crew Dragon capsule. The company launched their first astronauts in May 2020.