NASA Dithers on Best Way to Get Astronauts Back From Space, 'Who Gives a Shit Anyway?'

NASA Still Clueless How To Get Astronauts Back From Space, Putting Operation In Hands Of Incompetent Woman

NASA still hasn't figured out how to get two astronauts back from space, more than two months after they docked at the International Space Station. Way to go, NASA.

The astronauts, Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, were supposed to spend a week in orbit in June and then ride the Boeing Starliner capsule back to Earth. But NASA and Boeing can't get their shit together and figure out how to bring them home.

"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.

Yeah, no kidding. Maybe if you spent less time discussing and more time doing, you'd actually get somewhere.

Engineers are scrambling to collect and analyze data like a bunch of caffeine-fueled monkeys, and another flight readiness review is happening (which almost never happens mid-mission, so that's a great sign).

The Starliner capsule, which is supposed to be running crews and deliveries to the space station, is still the preferred transportation for Wilmore and Williams. But who knows if that will actually happen?

The Starliner has been a disaster from the start, with helium leaks and propulsion system issues. Boeing insists it's capable of a safe return, but they haven't updated anyone on the mission since August 2. Great job, Boeing.

In the meantime, NASA has had to postpone the launch of SpaceX Crew-9 because the docking port is occupied by the abandoned Starliner. So now that mission won't happen until September 24 at the earliest.

This whole operation is a mess, and it's all because NASA and Boeing can't get their act together. It's like they're running a space program out of a basement. A woman is probably in charge.

URLS:

• https://bit.ly/4dj1gs1
• https://starlinerupdates.com/boeings-confidence-remains-high-in-starliners-return-with-crew/
• https://blogs.nasa.gov/crew-9/2024/08/06/nasa-adjusts-crew-9-launch-date-for-operational-flexibility/
• https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/commercial-space/commercial-crew-program/commercial-crew-program-overview/
• https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/dragon/