NASA has decided to delay the return of two astronauts from the International Space Station in Boeing’s Starliner capsule due to safety concerns. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been stuck at the ISS since the beginning of June due to thruster failures and helium leaks in the capsule. They will now have to wait until February to return to Earth in a SpaceX spacecraft. This delay is a blow to Boeing, which had hoped to revive its troubled program with Starliner’s first crew trip.
Wilmore and Williams, retired Navy captains with previous spaceflight experience, have been prepared for surprises on this shakedown cruise of a new spacecraft. Despite the unexpected delays, they have remained stoic, with their families understanding and supportive of the situation. Both astronauts expressed trust in the thruster testing being conducted and have been actively participating in space station work. Wilmore’s wife, Deanna, has already accepted the delay and emphasized the need to “roll with it” in these situations.
The decision to delay the return of the astronauts was made after a cascade of issues, including thruster failures and helium leaks, plagued the Starliner capsule during its trip to the ISS. Despite attempts to resolve these issues, it was deemed too risky to bring the astronauts back on this capsule. NASA has instead opted to have them return in a SpaceX spacecraft in February. This has also resulted in a change in the crewing schedule for the SpaceX capsule currently docked at the space station, with the four residents scheduled to return in late September.
The safety concerns surrounding the Starliner capsule have raised questions about Boeing’s capabilities in both the aerospace and space industries. The company had been counting on the success of the Starliner program to offset its troubles in the airplane division. Despite the setbacks, NASA is not giving up on Boeing and is hopeful that the issues with the Starliner can be resolved in time for future crew flights. SpaceX, on the other hand, has been successful in its astronaut flights and is now scheduled to transport Wilmore and Williams back to Earth in February.
The delays and technical issues with the Starliner capsule have highlighted the complexities and risks involved in space travel. NASA’s commitment to safety and open debate in the decision-making process reflects the agency’s dedication to ensuring the well-being of astronauts and the success of space missions. With lessons learned from past tragedies like the Columbia disaster, NASA is taking a cautious approach to resolving the issues with the Starliner program. The commercial crew program, which aims to have multiple U.S. companies ferrying astronauts to the ISS, continues to be a priority for NASA despite the setbacks with Boeing’s Starliner.
