Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft suffered another setback over the weekend when NASA determined it was unable to bring its crew home. That task now falls to Boeing’s rival SpaceX.
NASA crew of Boeing Starliner to remain in space until February
Boeing Starliner astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams are expected to remain in space until February, NASA announced Saturday.
- Astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams face another six months on the International Space Station as they await the arrival of Crew-9 aboard a SpaceX Dragon and complete their deployment.
- The Starliner will undock in September and return to Earth autonomously without its crew.
- NASA officials have indicated they plan to review data to determine if certification for Starliner is still possible.
The two NASA astronauts who flew into space aboard the Boeing Starliner thought they would be home in time for Independence Day. But it turns out they won’t even be returning to Earth to ring in the New Year.
Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams have six months left to spend 400 kilometers above Earth. That’s in addition to the nearly three months the veteran astronauts have already spent on the International Space Station since arriving on June 6. They were originally scheduled to stay for just over a week.
But after a thorough analysis of the Starliner spacecraft, NASA officials concluded that the vehicle was not up to the task of reliably transporting Wilmore and Williams for the return flight, the space agency said Saturday. That responsibility will now fall to Boeing’s aerospace rival SpaceX instead.
Meanwhile, the Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth empty-handed.
The decision settles the fate of the Starliner and its crew, but many questions may still remain. Here’s everything you need to know about the Starliner, where the mission went wrong, and what might happen next.
When did the Starliner launch?
The Starliner capsule – built to regularly transport crews and supplies to the station on behalf of NASA – launched on June 5 aboard an Atlas V rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The highly anticipated launch came after several delays over the course of about a month due to identified problems with the spacecraft, including problems with a valve in the rocket’s upper stage.
Check out another launch: Polaris Dawn civilian crew prepares for launch into orbit on SpaceX spacecraft
What is the purpose of this mission?
The mission was the first manned demonstration of the spacecraft, which is intended to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to conduct routine trips into space on behalf of NASA.
The partnership marks a shift in recent years for the U.S. space agency, which, to save money, has started paying private companies to carry out missions it once carried out itself. Certification of the Starliner for such missions would give NASA a second operational spacecraft to carry astronauts and cargo to the space station after spending billions of dollars with Boeing and SpaceX to develop the vehicles.
What’s going on with the Starliner spaceship?
Wilmore and Williams were originally scheduled to stay aboard the International Space Station for just over a week.
But when they reached the orbiting outpost a day after launch, engineers discovered a series of helium leaks and problems with the spacecraft’s propulsion system that hampered the Starliner’s return to Earth.
Who are the two Starliner astronauts?
Williams, 58, and Wilmore, 61, were selected for the maiden crewed flight of the Starliner, which had previously completed two uncrewed flight tests.
Both astronauts are Navy veterans and have already been in space twice.
Before the Starliner mission, Williams, who was selected as an astronaut in 1998, had spent 322 days in space since her first flight in 2007. Wilmore, a retired Navy captain, joined NASA in 2000 and had spent 178 days in space before Starliner following its first trip into orbit in 2009.
How and when will the astronauts of the Starliner spacecraft return to Earth?
The Starliner spacecraft will return autonomously to Earth in September to clear a docking slot for the delayed SpaceX Crew-9, which is scheduled to reach the space station on September 24 for a six-month rotation mission.
The Dragon capsule that will carry Crew-9 into orbit is now also Williams and Wilmore’s journey home.
For this reason, Crew-9 will consist of only two members instead of four, NASA said. The Starliner crew will then fly with Crew-9 on the Dragon on February 25, 2025, after the SpaceX astronauts have completed their six-month deployment on the station.
What are Williams and Wilmore doing on the International Space Station?
With no choice but to wait until February, Wilmore and Williams will continue to assist with scientific research and routine maintenance aboard the International Space Station.
How many astronauts are currently on board the ISS?
Currently, the Starliner astronauts are living among the seven members of Expedition 71, who arrived at the space station in April. Of the Expedition 71 members, four are part of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission, which was scheduled to depart the station in August before the Crew-9 delay.
The eight months Wilmore and Williams will ultimately spend in orbit are long compared to the usual six-month rotations. History was made in September when astronaut Frank Rubio returned to Earth after 371 days in orbit, becoming the American with the record for the longest spaceflight.
Does the space station have enough supplies for the astronauts?
NASA stressed that Wilmore and Williams were adequately equipped with food, water, clothing and oxygen for the long-distance flight.
And in case you’re wondering, Wilmore and Williams may actually still vote from the space station in the upcoming presidential election.
Can Starliner still get NASA certification?
There was high hope that a successful manned Starliner mission would pave the way for NASA to approve the spacecraft for routine missions to transport astronauts and cargo to and from the International Space Station.
Although the spacecraft’s uncrewed return is imminent, NASA officials do not appear to have ruled out the possibility of a coveted certification. Next, the agency signaled its intention to review the mission data and determine what further steps are necessary for Boeing.
“This flight test provides important information about Starliner’s performance in space,” said Steve Stich, director of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “Our efforts will help prepare for the uncrewed return and will greatly benefit future corrective actions for the spacecraft.”
Boeing officials have remained largely silent about Starliner for most of August and have not participated in press conferences with NASA. Although the company has posted regular Starliner updates on its website, the most recent one appeared on August 2 under the headline “Boeing remains highly confident that Starliner will return with crew.”
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]
