NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has announced that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who flew to the International Space Station (ISS) in June aboard Boeing’s faulty Starliner capsule, will return to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle early next year. This decision was made due to ongoing issues with the Starliner’s propulsion system, which Nelson deemed too risky to bring the crew back safely.
The astronauts, both experienced military test pilots, were scheduled for an eight-day test mission on the Starliner, but encountered problems with the propulsion system that led to delays and concerns about the capsule’s safety. Five thrusters failed, and leaks of helium used to pressurize the thrusters were detected during the flight to the ISS.
Boeing has been working to address these issues, conducting tests and simulations on Earth to gather data and convince NASA that the Starliner is safe for crewed missions. However, the testing raised additional engineering questions and did not alleviate NASA’s concerns about the capsule’s ability to safely return the crew to Earth.
Amy Thompson, a space and science journalist, highlighted the potential risks of returning the astronauts on the Starliner, such as the impact of leaks and thruster malfunctions during re-entry into the atmosphere. NASA’s priority is the safety of the crew, and the decision to bring them back on a SpaceX vehicle reflects this commitment.
Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, has expressed intentions to continue working on resolving the issues with the Starliner once it returns safely. The certification of the Starliner for crewed missions remains uncertain, adding to the challenges that Ortberg faces as he seeks to restore the company’s reputation following previous incidents.
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