CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.— NASA is currently considering whether to extend the stay of two astronauts at the International Space Station until early next year and potentially send their troubled Boeing capsule back empty.
Instead of bringing Boeing’s Starliner back to Earth, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams may opt to catch a ride on SpaceX’s next flight, allowing them to remain at the space station until February of the following year.
The initial plan for the test pilots was a short stay of just a week or so when they embarked on Starliner’s first crew mission. However, technical issues such as thruster failures and helium leaks during the capsule’s journey to the space station have raised concerns about its safe return, leaving the astronauts in a state of uncertainty.
NASA officials are currently reviewing more data before making a decision by the end of the following week. The thrusters in question are crucial for maintaining the capsule’s position during descent from orbit.
“We have some time before Starliner needs to return, and we want to make the most of that time,” said Ken Bowersox, NASA’s space operations mission chief.
NASA’s safety chief Russ DeLoach emphasized the importance of considering all perspectives, unlike past incidents such as the Challenger and Columbia tragedies where dissenting views were disregarded.
Transitioning to SpaceX would require rearranging the crew for the upcoming ferry flight scheduled for late September. Wilmore and Williams would take the vacant seats in SpaceX’s Dragon capsule once their six-month mission concludes.
Boeing asserts that Starliner is still capable of safely bringing the astronauts back. The company has conducted extensive testing on the thrusters both in space and on the ground since the launch.
NASA aims to retain SpaceX’s current crew until the replacements arrive, unless in case of an emergency. The uncertainty surrounding Starliner has extended the current crew’s mission by seven months, keeping them on the space station until the end of September.
Wilmore and Williams, both retired Navy captains, have seamlessly integrated into their tasks aboard the space station, assisting with experiments and repairs since their arrival.
“They are dedicated to fulfilling their duties as astronauts,” said NASA chief astronaut Joe Acaba. “This mission is a test flight, and as Butch and Suni acknowledged prior to launch, they understood that it might not be flawless.”
NASA enlisted SpaceX and Boeing to provide transportation services for astronauts to and from the space station following the retirement of the shuttles in 2011.
SpaceX conducted its first astronaut flight in 2020, while Boeing faced challenges during its initial crewless test flight in 2019, resulting in the need for a redo. Despite additional setbacks, including significant costs for repairs, Boeing eventually flew astronauts to the space station.
By Marcia Dunn
