NASA officials announced on Saturday that NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who flew to the International Space Station in Boeing’s faulty Starliner capsule, will need to return to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle early next year. This decision was made due to issues with Starliner’s propulsion system that were deemed too risky to carry its first crew home as planned.
Recent Glitches and Delays
Veteran NASA astronauts Wilmore and Williams, both former military test pilots, were launched to the ISS on June 5 for what was expected to be an eight-day test mission. However, Starliner’s propulsion system suffered a series of glitches in the first 24 hours of its flight, causing delays. This has kept the astronauts on the station for 79 days as Boeing scrambled to investigate the issues.
Although the delay was unexpected, NASA officials assured reporters during a news conference in Houston that Wilmore and Williams are safe and prepared to stay even longer. They will take advantage of the extra time to conduct science experiments alongside the station’s other seven astronauts, NASA said.
A Rare Reshuffling of NASA’s Astronaut Operations
In a rare reshuffling of NASA’s astronaut operations, the two astronauts are now expected to return in February 2025 on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. This move comes as part of a routine astronaut rotation mission. Two of the Crew Dragon’s four astronaut seats will be kept empty for Wilmore and Williams.
Boeing’s Struggles with Starliner
Boeing’s Starliner program has faced years of development problems and over $1.6 billion in budget overruns since 2016. The recent glitches and delays have further hindered the program’s progress. Five of Starliner’s 28 thrusters failed during flight, and it experienced several leaks of helium, which is used to pressurize the thrusters.
Starliner’s crew certification path is now uncertain, as the drawn-out mission has cost Boeing $125 million. The company has conducted tests and simulations to gather data, but ultimately failed to convince NASA officials that Starliner is safe for a crewed return trip. Boeing’s struggles with Starliner have added to the challenges faced by its new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, who is working to rebuild the company’s reputation after a series of quality issues.
NASA’s decision to use a SpaceX vehicle to bring home the astronauts stuck on Boeing’s faulty Starliner capsule represents a significant setback for Boeing’s space program. The uncertainties surrounding Starliner’s certification and Boeing’s struggles with quality issues highlight the challenges faced by the company in the aerospace industry. SpaceX’s involvement in returning the astronauts safely demonstrates the importance of collaboration in the space exploration community.
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