WASHINGTON: NASA has decided that the two US astronauts who flew to the International Space Station (ISS) in June aboard Boeing’s troubled Starliner capsule will return to Earth on a SpaceX spacecraft early next year. NASA officials announced on Saturday that Starliner’s propulsion system issues pose too great a risk for the return journey.
Veteran astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both former military test pilots, became the first crew to fly on Starliner when it launched on June 5 for what was planned as an eight-day test mission. However, the capsule experienced significant propulsion problems within the first 24 hours of its flight, leading to an extended stay at the ISS.
The astronauts, who have now been at the station for 79 days, will remain there to conduct scientific experiments alongside the other crew members. They are expected to return in February on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, which will launch next month as part of a routine astronaut rotation. Two of Crew Dragon’s seats will be reserved for Wilmore and Williams.
NASA’s decision to use SpaceX for the return marks a significant shift, as Boeing had hoped its Starliner test mission would resolve longstanding issues and restore confidence in the program. Starliner encountered multiple failures during its flight, including the malfunction of five of its 28 thrusters and several helium leaks.
Starliner will undock from the ISS in early September and attempt an autonomous return to Earth, bypassing a key test objective of having a crew aboard for the return trip.
Boeing’s Starliner chief, Mark Nappi, expressed his commitment to resolving the issues and ensuring the safety of future missions. Despite Boeing’s vote for Starliner’s safety, NASA’s space operations chief, Ken Bowersox, and other officials unanimously supported the decision to use Crew Dragon.
Boeing, which has faced challenges with both Starliner and its commercial aircraft production, will continue working on the capsule’s issues, with Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, expressing confidence in its future.
Starliner’s mission difficulties have already cost Boeing $125 million, and the company will continue to conduct tests and simulations to address the issues and seek certification for future crewed flights.
