NASA Prefers SpaceX for Returning Starliner Astronauts from ISS; Boeing Setback Continues
SpaceX's Lifeline for Stranded Astronauts
Get ready for a thrilling space saga! In February 2025, SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule will swoop down and whisk Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore back home from their eight-month-long stay at the International Space Station. NASA's announcement on Saturday marked a tough cut for Boeing's Starliner program, pushing the astronauts' journey to an epic length.
The Starliner's road to space has been stacked with obstacles since Boeing landed its $4.3 billion contract with NASA in 2014. Over the years, it's gone over budget by more than $1.5 billion, beginning with a botched first test flight and rippling into a series of difficulties including faulty parachutes, flammable protective tape, rust accumulation, an issue with an oxygen tank's pressure regulation valve, and, most recently, recurring helium leaks that pose a threat to the vehicle's thrusters on re-entry.
The astronauts initially faced the possibility of being stranded at the ISS for as long as six months. Starliner's inaugural crewed test-flight launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 5, 2024. Pre-launch as well as post-docking at ISS, the craft showed signs of helium leaks, forcing NASA and Boeing to re-evaluate if the craft was safe enough for its passengers to return.
Despite Boeing's claims that the Starliner could bring Williams and Wilmore safely back home, the duo will instead rocket down to Earth on SpaceX's Crew-9 mission, initially planned for August with four astronauts. Thanks to a hitch in their space plan, the capsule will now blast off as early as September 24 with just two crew members. Williams and Wilmore will hop on as soon as the Crew Dragon capsule returns to Earth in February.
In the unusual event that they do have to make a maiden voyage in SpaceX suits, Williams and Wilmore might discover that these cosmic threads aren't interchangeable. "You can't have a Boeing suit in a SpaceX craft, or a SpaceX suit in a Boeing vehicle," NASA deputy associate administrator Joel Montalbano had said earlier this month.
The Boeing Starliner's uncertain future is a far cry from the success SpaceX's Crew Dragon has enjoyed. NASA administrator Bill Nelson puts it succinctly, "Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine." With a commitment to safety, NASA has chosen to proceed cautiously, keeping the astronauts aboard the ISS for additional months, missing their space-age homecoming. Instead, they'll return to the heart of Earth, in a SpaceX spaceship, wearing their famous, red and white suits.
Behind the Scenes:The Boeing Starliner program is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, inked in 2014 when NASA awarded Boeing a contract to develop the spacecraft for transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station. The contract, worth up to $4.6 billion, has faced a series of setbacks, delays, and financial pressures.
In 2019, the first uncrewed test flight of Starliner was aborted due to a mission timer error. In May 2022, the second uncrewed test flight managed to dock with the ISS but faced issues with thrusters and cooling loops. The first crewed mission launched on June 5, 2024, but technical glitches forced the astronauts to remain at the ISS for over nine months before being rescued by a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The Starliner's future plans include an uncrewed test flight to test modifications to the propulsion system and address helium leaks. Despite these challenges, NASA remains committed to having two spacecraft providers, leading to ongoing efforts to resolve the Starliner's issues.
- The costly setbacks of Boeing's Starliner program have led to an extended stay for astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore at the International Space Station, with SpaceX's Crew Dragon serving as their lifeline.
- Initially, the Starliner's inaugural crewed test-flight, launched in June 2024, showed signs of helium leaks, prompting NASA and Boeing to question the craft's safety for the astronauts' return.
- Despite Boeing's assertions that the Starliner could safely bring Williams and Wilmore home, they will instead travel on SpaceX's Crew-9 mission due to the Starliner's recurring helium leaks and NASA's commitment to safety.
- NASA deputy associate administrator Joel Montalbano noted that it's not possible to use a Boeing suit in a SpaceX craft or a SpaceX suit in a Boeing vehicle, potentially creating a unique challenge for Williams and Wilmore should they need to make a maiden voyage in SpaceX suits.
