NASA has made the difficult decision to delay the return of two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, to Earth due to the continued issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The pair, who have been on board the International Space Station since June, were initially scheduled to return in a Starliner capsule but will now have to wait until next year for a ride home with SpaceX. This decision comes after a series of thruster failures and helium leaks in the new capsule, which have marred their trip to the space station.
The Starliner spacecraft, designed to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station, has been plagued by problems since its first test flight without a crew in 2019. The latest issues began on July 3 when the spacecraft docked to the space station, and have continued to cause problems for the spacecraft’s thrusters and propulsion system. NASA officials have been working to resolve the issues, but so far, they have been unable to find a solution.
The decision to delay the astronauts’ return to Earth was not taken lightly, according to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “A test flight by nature is neither safe nor routine,” he said. “And so the decision… is a commitment to safety.” NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free also weighed in, saying, “This has not been an easy decision, but it is absolutely the right one.”
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams (Image via Getty)
Boeing, responsible for the Starliner spacecraft, has faced criticism for the delays and issues with the spacecraft. The company had initially indicated that the spacecraft was safe and that the problems were minor, but NASA officials have been skeptical of these claims. In a statement, Boeing said, “Boeing continues to focus, first and foremost, on the safety of the crew and spacecraft. We are executing the mission as determined by NASA, and we are preparing the spacecraft for a safe and successful uncrewed return.”
The delay is likely to have a significant impact on the astronauts and their families, who have been waiting for the pair to return to Earth. However, NASA officials say that the decision was necessary to ensure the safety of the astronauts and to ensure that the spacecraft is ready for future crewed missions.
Despite the setbacks, NASA officials remain committed to working with Boeing to resolve the issues with the Starliner spacecraft. “NASA went into its commercial crew program a decade ago wanting two competing US companies ferrying astronauts in the post-shuttle era,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Boeing won the bigger contract, and we are going to make sure that they get it right.”
