NASA is grappling with a critical decision regarding the safe return of astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams from the International Space Station (ISS) due to ongoing issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The astronauts, originally scheduled for a short mission, have been stranded on the ISS since June 5, 2024, due to technical problems with the Starliner’s propulsion system and helium leaks.Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for Space Operations, stated, ‘Our big concern is having a successful deorbit burn — making sure that the [propulsion] system works just the way it needs to all the way through the deorbit burn’. The agency is considering multiple options for their return, including repairing the Starliner, sending it back empty, or using a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February 2025.If NASA decides to return the Starliner empty, it would require reprogramming the spacecraft’s software and potentially delaying two of the four astronauts scheduled for the SpaceX Crew-9 mission in September. This would make room for Wilmore and Williams to return with the Crew-9 mission in February 2025, extending their stay on the ISS to approximately 8 months.The situation has raised concerns about the viability of Boeing’s Starliner program, which has already incurred $1.6 billion in losses. NASA remains committed to having two suppliers for ISS transportation, but SpaceX has been the primary provider for the past four years.NASA’s chief astronaut Joe Acaba emphasized the test nature of the mission, stating, ‘This mission is a test flight and, as Butch and Suni expressed ahead of their launch, they knew this mission might not be perfect’. The agency is expected to make a final decision by late August, with safety being the top priority.
Key points
- NASA astronauts Wilmore and Williams have been stranded on the ISS since June 5, 2024, due to Starliner spacecraft issues.
- NASA is considering multiple return options, including using a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February 2025.
- A final decision on the astronauts’ return is expected by late August, with safety as the top priority.
- The situation raises concerns about Boeing’s Starliner program and NASA’s reliance on multiple spacecraft providers.
Contradictions👾Some sources indicate that the astronauts may return as early as late August, while others suggest they might stay until February 2025.
👾There are varying reports on the exact nature of the Starliner’s technical issues, with some mentioning propulsion system failures and others focusing on helium leaks.
