After months of anticipation and assurance, NASA has confirmed the return flight of its Boeing Starliner capsule from the International Space Station (ISS). However, contrary to previous expectations, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will not be aboard the spacecraft when it returns to Earth. NASA officials announced on Saturday that it would be “too risky” to bring the two astronauts back at this time. Instead, they are scheduled to return in February 2025 aboard a Dragon capsule, a spacecraft developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
NASA’s decision follows multiple technical issues with the Boeing Starliner, making it an unsafe option for returning astronauts. The Starliner is expected to make its autonomous re-entry and safe landing in early September 2024, but without its human crew. In the meantime, Wilmore and Williams will continue their work on the ISS as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew. Their return will coincide with the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which will bring them back to Earth along with two other crew members.
Currently, SpaceX is the only American company capable of sending astronauts to and from the ISS, as Boeing’s Starliner has faced numerous delays and malfunctions. Although a SpaceX Dragon capsule is already docked at the ISS, it is reserved for four astronauts who have been aboard since March and are scheduled to return in September. Additionally, a Russian Soyuz capsule is also docked at the ISS but can only accommodate three astronauts, and it is set to return two Russian cosmonauts after their year-long mission.
The decision to delay the return of Wilmore and Williams comes after a series of technical problems with the Boeing Starliner. Issues such as helium leaks and faulty spacecraft reaction control thrusters were detected as early as June 2024. NASA and Boeing have since conducted extensive testing and reviews to address these concerns. Despite significant progress, NASA has deemed it too risky to rely on the Starliner for the astronauts’ return at this stage, prioritizing their safety.
The next SpaceX mission, originally scheduled to carry four astronauts, has been adjusted to accommodate Wilmore and Williams on the return journey in February 2025. This will mark a safe conclusion to their extended stay aboard the ISS, reaffirming NASA’s cautious approach to astronaut safety amidst technical uncertainties.
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