During a recent news conference, NASA officials opened up about the disagreements within the agency regarding the safety of the Starliner spacecraft in bringing two experienced astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, back from the International Space Station. This was the first time such divisions had been publicly acknowledged by the space agency.
Additionally, NASA confirmed key details that had been previously reported exclusively by Ars. They revealed that NASA had been working closely with SpaceX to plan a potential rescue mission for Wilmore and Williams. In light of this, the launch of the Crew-9 mission has been postponed to September 24 to accommodate this possibility. It was also disclosed that the Starliner does not have the capability to autonomously undock due to the current software configuration on the spacecraft.
Former astronaut Ken Bowersox, who now heads space human spaceflight operations for NASA, emphasized that no final decisions had been reached on how Wilmore and Williams would return to Earth. He explained that there were differing opinions among engineers at NASA and Boeing, the company behind the Starliner, regarding the reliability of the spacecraft’s 28 reaction control system thrusters used for precise maneuvering.
Bowersox acknowledged that these internal debates were essential for the organization’s growth, even though they could be challenging at times. He described it as a healthy process that ultimately contributes to making NASA a strong organization.
NASA has been evaluating various options for bringing the astronauts back to Earth. One possibility is for Wilmore and Williams to return on the Starliner spacecraft if NASA engineers gain more confidence in the thruster performance. In this case, the return could take place later this month or in early September. Alternatively, they could join the Crew-9 mission with a reduced crew and return to Earth in February 2025.
When asked about the likelihood of each scenario, Bowersox refrained from making a definitive statement. However, he mentioned that a decision would be made soon, with a deadline set for mid-August to determine the astronauts’ return path.
The primary concern for NASA regarding the Starliner spacecraft revolves around the failure of five thrusters during its ascent to the space station. The flight computer shut off these thrusters, leading to overheating in four of them. Since then, Boeing and NASA have been conducting rigorous tests to understand the root cause of the failure and ensure that the issue is addressed before Starliner’s return journey.
By delving into the details of the thruster problems and exploring potential solutions, NASA aims to resolve the safety concerns associated with the Starliner spacecraft and make an informed decision about the astronauts’ return. The collaborative efforts between NASA, Boeing, and SpaceX underscore the commitment to ensuring the astronauts’ safety during space missions.
