NASA adjusts its plans for the return of astronauts from the ISS as Boeing's Starliner faces technical issues. The upcoming Crew-9 mission will launch with a reduced crew to accommodate the astronauts' safe return on a SpaceX vehicle.
 |
| A setback for NASA's Commercial Crew Program: Boeing's Starliner will return to Earth uncrewed due to technical difficulties. The decision highlights the challenges and risks associated with spaceflight and impacts NASA's future plans. Image Courtesy: NASA |
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is set to make its return journey to Earth on September 6. After successfully docking with the International Space Station (ISS), the spacecraft will undock and begin its descent, with a planned landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico early the next morning.
This return flight will be uncrewed due to recent technical issues encountered during its previous mission. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were originally scheduled to return on Starliner, will instead be brought back to Earth on a SpaceX Crew Dragon vehicle in early 2025.
The decision to switch to SpaceX was made after multiple technical issues were discovered with Starliner. These included failures in maneuvering thrusters and a worsening helium leak. Despite extensive testing and analysis, NASA concluded that there was too much uncertainty surrounding the spacecraft's safety for a crewed return.
The upcoming return of Starliner will be closely monitored by NASA teams, who will be providing live coverage of the event. The SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which will replace Starliner on the ISS, is scheduled to launch later this month. However, due to the unexpected change in plans, the mission will now fly with only two astronauts instead of four.
This incident highlights the challenges and risks associated with space exploration. While the Starliner mission has faced setbacks, it remains a significant step forward for Boeing and the commercial space industry. As NASA continues to work with various companies to develop spacecraft for human spaceflight, the focus will be on ensuring the safety and reliability of these vehicles.