Lagatar24 Desk
Washington, D.C.: Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her NASA colleague Butch Wilmore, who were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Boeing’s Starliner in June, will now return to Earth with the help of Elon Musk’s SpaceX. This decision comes after Boeing’s spacecraft experienced technical issues that delayed their mission and raised safety concerns.
Initially launched on June 5 for what was intended to be an eight-day test mission, the two astronauts faced a prolonged stay on the ISS due to malfunctions in Starliner’s thrusters. On Saturday, NASA announced that the astronauts would return home in February 2024, with the Starliner returning to Earth without a crew.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of safety in making this decision, stating, “Our core value is safety.” He acknowledged the inherent risks of spaceflight, especially during test missions, and noted that the uncrewed return of Starliner would allow NASA and Boeing to gather valuable testing data while minimizing risks to the astronauts.
Boeing’s Starliner Challenges
Boeing’s Starliner has faced numerous delays over the years, and its June 5 launch marked a significant milestone. However, the mission quickly encountered problems. As Starliner approached the ISS, NASA and Boeing identified leaks in the spacecraft’s helium system and issues with its reaction control thrusters. Five out of the 28 thrusters failed during the flight, and the helium leaks further complicated the mission.
Despite these setbacks, Starliner successfully docked with the ISS, where it has housed rotating crews of astronauts for over two decades. However, concerns about the capsule’s ability to achieve the necessary thrust for a safe return to Earth led NASA to decide to bring the astronauts back with SpaceX.
SpaceX Steps In
In a rare operational reshuffle, NASA has now transferred Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to a SpaceX mission for their return. The SpaceX Crew-9 mission is scheduled to launch in late September, shortly after Starliner begins its uncrewed return to Earth.
The Crew-9 spacecraft will only carry two passengers instead of the originally planned four, making room for Williams and Wilmore. This mission will bring the two astronauts back to Earth in February 2024, concluding their extended stay aboard the ISS.
