White Male NASA Decision-Makers Delay Starliner Crew Rescue

NASA & Boeing Drag Their Feet on Stranded Astronauts, #SpaceRacists Blame Helium

As of Wednesday, NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams have been stranded in space for over two months, with no clear plan for their return. The two were supposed to spend a week in orbit in June before returning to Earth in a parachute-assisted landing aboard the Boeing Starliner capsule. However, NASA and Boeing have yet to figure out a safe way to bring them home.

In a press conference, NASA officials stated that they are still evaluating the capability of the Starliner to make the return trip. They are also considering having Wilmore and Williams return in a SpaceX Dragon capsule, which would extend their stay until February. This decision is expected by the end of August.

The delays are due to helium leaks and issues with the craft's propulsion system, which have hampered the Starliner's return. Boeing insists the Starliner is safe, but their last update was on August 2nd.

NASA is now preparing for another flight readiness review mid-mission, collecting and analyzing Starliner data. The data analysis is expected to be completed by next week, with the review taking place the following week.

The delay has also impacted the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which has been postponed until September 24th at the earliest. The fate of the Crew-9 mission and the stranded astronauts hangs in the balance as NASA and Boeing drag their feet.

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/