According to recent reports from NASA, the two astronauts stuck in space due to failures from a Boeing Starliner spacecraft may be flown back to Earth in 2025 in a Dragon Crew spacecraft developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were initially launched into orbit on June 5 and were expected to return as soon as June 14.
However, their Boeing Starliner craft encountered issues that prevented reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, such as helium leaks and failed thrusters. NASA has downplayed the technical difficulties and claimed the problems were not “significant at all.” As the astronauts have been stuck for months, the space agency is considering other options, such as innovative space technology from Musk.
Reports indicate that NASA engineers have debated over whether to utilize the Dragon or the embattled Starliner for reentry. However, some engineers have pointed out that the fact that there is even debate over whether the Starliner is viable should rule it out altogether. During a recent press conference, NASA’s Ken Bowersox said, “We could take either path, and reasonable people could pick either path.”
NASA’s program manager for commercial crew Steve Stich commented, “In the last few weeks, we have decided to make sure we have that capability there, as our community, I would say, got more and more uncomfortable.” Stich added in other comments that a conclusion has not yet been reached as to what craft they will use. “We didn’t poll in a way that led to a conclusion,” he said. “We heard from a lot of folks that had concerns, and the decision was not clear,” Bowersox said, echoing similar sentiment.
NASA spokesperson Josh Finch told Ars Technica about the agency’s contemplation on which spacecraft to use. “NASA is evaluating all options for the return of agency astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from the International Space Station as safely as possible. No decisions have been made and the agency will continue to provide updates on its planning,” he said.
“Those are pretty small, really, issues to deal with,” Mark Nappi, vice president and manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program said, downplaying the technical complications the Starliner was experiencing. “We’ll figure them out for the next mission. I don’t see these as significant at all.” Stich further stated,“Our prime option is to complete the mission. There are a lot of good reasons to complete this mission and bring Butch and Suni home on Starliner.” The program manager noted, “Starliner was designed, as a spacecraft, to have the crew in the cockpit.”
Notably, if NASA opts to fly the astronauts home on the Drago spacecraft, it could mark the end of the Boeing Starliner program. Boeing has garnered billions of dollars worth of aerospace contracts from the federal government. The company, which has faced substantial controversy over the past year, is expected to lose roughly $125 million from the Starliner fiasco.
Featured image credit: NASA TV, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starliner_approaches_the_ISS.jpg
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