Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which delivered NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in early June, will be returning to Earth without the crew onboard. Instead, NASA will now have astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, return via SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on September 24.
The decision to return the Starliner capsule empty signifies a significant shift in NASA and Boeing’s plans, as Starliner was originally intended to be the primary choice for returning the crew. However, issues with the propulsion system during the crew flight test led to this change in plans.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of understanding the root causes of the issues faced by the Starliner capsule. He stressed that safety is a top priority and that test flights are not routine. The decision to return the capsule empty was made in the interest of ensuring the safety of the crew.
NASA revealed that there was a “technical disagreement” between the agency and Boeing regarding the safety of returning the crew onboard the Starliner capsule. Despite the disagreements, NASA expressed support for Boeing and remained confident in the future reliability of the spacecraft.
NASA officials unanimously decided to choose SpaceX to bring the crew home instead of using the Starliner capsule. SpaceX will be launching its Crew-9 mission to the ISS, with Wilmore and Williams scheduled to return to Earth aboard the Crew-9 vehicle in February.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule, named “Calypso,” encountered thruster failures during docking at the ISS, leading to delays and safety concerns. This setback has further hindered Boeing’s progress in NASA’s Commercial Crew program and raised doubts about the company’s future involvement in space missions.
The setback faced by Boeing raises questions about NASA’s strategy of having multiple companies, including SpaceX and Boeing, involved in crewed missions to the ISS. With losses exceeding $1.5 billion, Boeing’s future participation in the Commercial Crew program may be at risk.
The decision to return Boeing’s Starliner capsule empty from the ISS highlights the challenges and complexities involved in human spaceflight missions. Safety concerns, technical issues, and disagreements between NASA and aerospace companies can impact the success of spacecraft development and crewed missions to the ISS. As NASA continues to prioritize safety and reliability in its space exploration initiatives, it will be crucial for all stakeholders to collaborate effectively and address the root causes of problems to ensure the success of future missions.
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