NASA has decided to extend the stay of two crew members aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft at the International Space Station due to concerns regarding the spacecraft’s thruster problems. The crew will return to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon capsule instead of on Starliner as originally planned. The decision was made after engineers determined that the thrusters experienced overheating during the spacecraft’s approach to the space station, leading to performance issues.
Boeing had been working to address the thruster system problems on Starliner for over two months. The decision to extend the crew’s stay on the space station and use the SpaceX Dragon as a return vehicle was made to prioritize safety and avoid the risks associated with the thruster issues. The contingency plan developed called for the crew to return in February on the SpaceX Dragon with a slimmed-down crew on board.
In the days ahead, NASA will conduct a rehearsal for having the Starliner undock from the space station under remote control. The spacecraft will depart uncrewed, landing in New Mexico. The SpaceX Dragon currently docked at the space station will be reconfigured to accommodate the returning crew members in the event of an emergency. The next Dragon crew-rotation mission will carry only two astronauts instead of four, with seats designated for the returning crew members.
Boeing will continue to work on addressing the thruster problems and ensuring the safety of the crew and spacecraft. The company has had to cover extra development costs for Starliner thus far, and will work with NASA to assess the success of the current test mission and determine any additional steps that need to be taken. Safety considerations will guide decisions regarding the future of Starliner, with NASA and Boeing working together to resolve any issues and ensure the spacecraft can eventually fly NASA astronauts on a regular basis.
NASA’s decision to extend the crew’s stay on the space station highlights the importance of safety in space missions. While the crew members are disappointed not to be returning on Starliner as originally planned, they are handling the delays with professionalism. The crew members have been helping with various tasks on the space station and are prepared to remain in orbit for an extended period of time, including through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Overall, the focus is on ensuring the safety of the crew and spacecraft, with a continued partnership between NASA and Boeing to address the thruster problems and other issues that arose during Starliner’s test mission. Boeing is committed to working with NASA to resolve any challenges and prepare for a successful uncrewed return of Starliner. Despite the setback, both NASA and Boeing remain confident in Starliner’s future and are dedicated to ensuring that it can eventually fly NASA astronauts on a regular basis.
