NASA management is currently in extensive discussions about whether to bring back astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on Boeing’s Starliner capsule or use a SpaceX craft as an alternative. This deliberation arises from unresolved issues with multiple thrusters on Starliner during docking, as confirmed by a source familiar with the situation.
NASA is weighing the option of returning Starliner empty while using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon to bring back the astronauts. However, there is no clear consensus among NASA decision-makers, making the outcome unpredictable.
The Starliner capsule, named “Calypso,” has been in space for 59 days, far exceeding its initially planned nine-day mission. The mission’s extension is due to ongoing testing to understand the thruster problem. Although NASA and Boeing have publicly framed these extensions as data-gathering exercises, internal concerns about the spacecraft’s safety have emerged.
Boeing maintains confidence in Starliner’s ability to return the astronauts safely, despite the thruster issues. The company has provided additional data and analysis to support this. NASA, however, remains cautious, highlighting the unknown root cause of the thruster failures as a significant risk factor.
If NASA decides to return Starliner empty, the astronauts could be brought back using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. This would involve reallocating seats on the upcoming Crew-9 mission to accommodate Wilmore and Williams. NASA’s recent tests indicated that 27 of Starliner’s 28 thrusters are functioning correctly, but the uncertainty surrounding the initial failures persists.
Mark Nappi, Boeing’s VP of the Starliner program, acknowledged that while significant findings have been made regarding the thrusters, the root cause remains unidentified. This uncertainty adds to the risk assessment NASA must consider.
The decision-making process is currently stalled, with the Commercial Crew Program Control Board (PCB), led by Steve Stich, yet to reach a consensus. The next PCB meeting is scheduled for the coming days, where further discussions will take place.
NASA’s final decision will have broader implications for Boeing’s role in the Commercial Crew Program. A successful return of the astronauts on Starliner would demonstrate confidence in Boeing, while a failure could pressure NASA to terminate Boeing’s contract. Conversely, opting for the SpaceX alternative and seeing Starliner return without incident could lead to criticism of NASA for potentially overreacting to the situation.
Ultimately, NASA emphasizes that astronaut safety remains its top priority in human spaceflight decisions, an inherently risky venture.
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