NASA, Boeing Stall on Plan to Return Astronauts from Space Station

As of Wednesday, NASA and Boeing still have no extraction plan for astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, stranded aboard the International Space Station since June. The pair were slated to spend a week in orbit, riding the beleaguered Boeing Starliner capsule, which has been plagued by helium leaks and propulsion issues.

"It's a fairly major discussion to decide about whether or not we're going to have a crew on board for a Starliner return," said Ken Bowersox, NASA's associate administrator for space operations. "We've got time available before we bring Starliner home, and we want to use that time wisely."

Delays and Uncertainty

Originally launched on June 5 from the Kennedy Space Center, the Starliner's return has been indefinite due to technical issues. This has prompted NASA to conduct another flight readiness review mid-mission. Engineers are collecting and analyzing data with the review expected to be completed by the end of next week.

Scramble for Decisions

In the meantime, NASA has had to postpone the launch of SpaceX Crew-9, which was set for Sunday. The Starliner capsule must vacate the docking port by September 24, when Crew-9 is rescheduled to launch. This scramble for decisions highlights the pressure on NASA and Boeing to ensure the safe return of Wilmore and Williams. Whether the Starliner returns with or without a crew will impact the makeup of the Crew-9 mission.

Boeing vs. SpaceX

The Starliner's maiden crewed voyage was meant to demonstrate its ability to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX, delivering astronauts and cargo for NASA. While SpaceX has been operating since 2020, this mission was seen as a chance for Boeing to get on track. However, with ongoing delays and issues, it's uncertain if the Starliner can be certified for future crewed missions if it returns to Earth empty.

Original article: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2024/08/07/nasa-boeing-starliner-crews-return-still-undecided-2-months-space-station/9896933002/