NASA's two Boeing Starliner astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore might not return before February 2025, the agency said in its latest update on Saturday. A SpaceX spacecraft will give them a ride home. However, the empty capsule will undock in early September and attempt to return on autopilot for a touch down in the New Mexico desert.
In a statement on Saturday, NASA officials said that Williams and Wilmore will ride SpaceX's Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft no earlier than February 2025. The two left for the International Space Station in early June for a short mission. However, issues with their Starliner's thruster and helium leaks marred their trip.
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"The bottom line with respect to bring Starliner back was that there was just too much uncertainty in the prediction of the thrusters. It was just too much risk with a crew and so we decided to pursue the uncrewed testing," NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich said.
What could the troubled space capsule reveal?
If the capsule is retreived safely, it could reveal critical insights into the spacecraft's reliability and safety, especially given its troubled history with test flights and technical problems. Boeing’s upcoming return attempt aims to address these issues, and NASA remains hopeful that the capsule’s challenges can be resolved for future missions.
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In cases like this, spacecraft returns can reveal several key aspects:
Technical Issues: Identification of faults in systems like thrusters, and propulsion.
Safety Concerns: Assessment of any risks associated with the spacecraft’s design and operation.
Engineering Performance: Evaluation of how well the spacecraft met design specifications and performance expectations.
Operational Challenges: Insights into any difficulties encountered during the mission.
Post-Mission Data: Collection of data from the spacecraft’s return, such as from sensors and onboard instruments, which helps refine future designs.