NASA recently confirmed its contingency plan to bring astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams back from the International Space Station (ISS) early next year if they are unable to depart sooner aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. This backup plan relies on SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, which has experienced launch delays.
The Boeing Starliner faced thruster failures and helium leaks while docking with the ISS, leading to additional delays in the astronauts’ return journey. With the crewed test flight originally scheduled seven years ago, Boeing’s Starliner program has been marred by significant delays and cost overruns. This recent setback is just one in a series of missteps for Boeing, including a criminal fraud charge and an exploding door plug on one of its planes.
Potential Causes of Failure
Tests conducted at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility suggest that deformed Teflon seals may have contributed to the thruster failures on the Starliner. However, NASA has not yet made a final decision on whether the astronauts will return using Boeing’s spacecraft or SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission. The agency is expected to reach a conclusion by mid-August.
While using the Starliner is NASA’s preferred solution, the agency has a backup plan in place. If necessary, SpaceX will send two astronauts on a late September Crew-9 launch, allowing Wilmore and Williams to return in February of next year. Boeing will reconfigure the Starliner craft to return uncrewed ahead of the SpaceX mission.
The mission to bring astronauts back from the ISS has been complicated by delays, technical issues, and decision-making processes. NASA, Boeing, and SpaceX are working together to ensure the safe return of Wilmore and Williams while exploring all available options. As the space agencies continue to assess the situation, the astronauts’ eventual return home remains uncertain but highly anticipated.
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