In response to NASA’s update, Boeing maintained its position that the Starliner remains capable of safely bringing the astronauts home.

A mission that was supposed to be a 10-day test flight for Boeing’s new spacecraft has turned into an extended stay for astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

The Boeing CST-100 Starliner capsule carrying them blasted off on June 5 and arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) the next day. Upon arrival, the astronauts uncovered propulsion system issues including thruster failures and helium leaks. This raised serious safety concerns, and consistently delayed the return of the astronauts. 

NASA is now grappling with a major decision: should the astronauts return to Earth on the troubled Starliner, or switch to a SpaceX Crew Dragon?

If the latter option is chosen, the two test flight astronauts will return home in early 2025 (most likely February), making them stay at ISS for a total of eight months. 

On Wednesday, August 7, NASA officials held a media briefing to update on astronauts’ return. They are currently examining the safety of returning aboard the Starliner. A final decision is expected by mid or end August.

The Starliner will make an unmanned return flight to Earth before being certified for astronaut return. 

In the event that Starliner is deemed unsafe for the return journey, NASA plans to modify the Space X Crew-9 mission. Instead of four astronauts, only two would fly in September using Dragon, with Williams and Wilmore returning at the end of this mission in early 2025.

Boeing says Starliner safe for return

Boeing insists the spacecraft is safe, while NASA remains cautious.

In response to NASA’s update, Boeing maintained its position that the Starliner remains capable of safely bringing the astronauts home.

“We still believe in Starliner’s capability and its flight rationale,” the company said.

After replicating the spacecraft’s in-space issues through ground testing, Boeing has maintained its confidence in the Starliner’s capabilities.

During the briefing, Boeing representatives were absent. According to reports, if the Starliner is chosen, Boeing will need to update the spacecraft’s software properly.

“I think the NASA community in general would like to understand a little bit more of the root cause and the physics,” Steve Stich, program manager for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, told the press. 

As per AFP, NASA and Boeing are conducting joint tests at the White Sands Testing Facility in New Mexico. 

Ground testing

NASA is bringing in additional experts to investigate the thruster malfunctions that occurred during Starliner’s approach to the space station.

Ground-based testing duplicated the thruster difficulties, pointing to the “poppet” valve as a possible reason. Experts suggest that the valve expanded, potentially obstructing the flow of fuel.

Moreover, overheating may have caused “some fuel to vaporize.” 

Despite these problems, engineers have been able to reactivate four out of five affected thrusters on the spacecraft .

The thrusters are essential for Starliner’s controlled separation from the space station and to maintain its appropriate position during return.

In another critical issue, engineers are working to address helium leaks within Starliner’s propulsion system — vital for the spacecraft’s control. A helium leak was identified prior to launch and deemed stable, but subsequent leaks were uncovered in flight. Officials have previously suggested that undersized seals could be the cause of the helium leaks.

Boeing has suffered various setbacks

Reportedly , Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, stated that returning astronauts with Starliner is still their “prime option.”

It’s a difficult choice for NASA, but the astronauts’ safety remains its first concern.

Both Boeing and SpaceX won NASA contracts in 2014 to ferry astronauts to the space station. SpaceX began operations in 2020 and has carried multiple crews since.

In contrast to SpaceX’s rapid progress, Boeing’s program has encountered a series of critical failures. From a software glitch that jeopardized its first unmanned mission to the finding of flammable materials aboard the spacecraft, the program has faced significant challenges. 

Unfortunately, the crewed test launch was further delayed by two aborted attempts, highlighting the continued hurdles.

A SpaceX return for Wilmore and William would be a major blow to Boeing, which is already under intense scrutiny due to safety concerns surrounding its commercial aircraft. Nevertheless, the world awaits the safe return of the astronauts.

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