NASA to Decide Fate of Boeing Starliner Capsule

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is scheduled to hold a live news conference at 1 p.m. EDT Saturday from the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the fate of the Boeing Starliner capsule. This follows a flight readiness review meeting with NASA and Boeing officials about one hour prior. The news conference will be televised and livestreamed, as announced by the agency Thursday.

The Starliner capsule has encountered issues since its launch, with engineers discovering helium leaks and propulsion system problems. NASA is considering bringing astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams back on a SpaceX Dragon if the Starliner is deemed unsafe. If this decision is made, the astronauts will remain on the International Space Station until February.

How to Watch NASA News Conference

The news conference will be widely public and can be watched via multiple platforms:

• NASA+
• NASA Television, which will soon phase out
• NASA app
• The agency’s website
• YouTube

Flight Readiness Review

A flight readiness review is typically conducted before a mission and sometimes mid-mission to ensure safety. The Starliner capsule, intended for regular crew and delivery missions, still remains the preferred transport for Wilmore and Williams. However, NASA has contingency plans involving SpaceX’s Dragon, as mentioned by Ken Bowersox.

Starliner’s Timeline of Issues

The Starliner faced issues even before its June 5 launch from the Kennedy Space Center. Initially planned for a short stay, the mission has extended due to technical problems. Engineers discovered helium leaks and propulsion system issues, delaying the crew's return.

Amid these issues, NASA postponed the launch of SpaceX Crew-9, initially scheduled for August. The Crew-9 mission, set to replace Crew-8, is now delayed to Sept. 24 or later, according to NASA. Depending on the decision, Wilmore and Williams may hitch a ride back on the SpaceX Dragon in February.

Starliner’s Mission

The Starliner is intended to compete with SpaceX, marking NASA’s shift towards private commercial partnerships to cut costs. Certifying the Starliner for regular missions would offer NASA a second operational spacecraft, though Boeing has lagged behind SpaceX, which has been transporting astronauts and supplies to the ISS since 2020 using its Dragon capsule.

The fate of Starliner and its crew remains uncertain, pending the outcome of the flight readiness review and subsequent news conference.