Over the weekend, NASA will determine the safety of Boeing’s new capsule for returning two astronauts from the International Space Station, where they have been stranded since June.
Administrator Bill Nelson and other officials will convene on Saturday, with an announcement expected once the meeting concludes.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched on Boeing’s Starliner on June 5, but encountered thruster failures and helium leaks. NASA has kept the capsule at the station while engineers assess the situation.
SpaceX could potentially retrieve the astronauts, although this would delay their return until February. Originally, they were scheduled to return after just a week at the station.
If NASA opts for SpaceX, Starliner would return to Earth empty in September.
Engineers are examining a new computer model for the Starliner thrusters to assess their performance during reentry for a landing in the U.S. Western desert. Updated risk analyses will influence the final decision.
Boeing recently confirmed through extensive testing that Starliner can safely bring the astronauts back.
This mission marks Boeing’s first astronaut flight after facing various capsule issues that caused delays. Previous Starliner test flights were unmanned.
NASA selected Boeing and SpaceX a decade ago to transport astronauts to and from the station following the retirement of the space shuttles. SpaceX has been operational since 2020.
By Marcia Dunn
