SpaceX to Return Boeing’s Starliner Astronauts from Space Next Year, Says NASA

By Joey Roulette

WASHINGTON – Two NASA astronauts who traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) in June aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule will be returning to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle early next year, according to NASA officials. This decision was made due to propulsion system issues with Starliner, which are deemed too risky for the scheduled crew return.

Veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both experienced military test pilots, became the first crew to utilize Starliner during its launch to the ISS on June 5 for what was planned as an eight-day test mission. However, the spacecraft’s propulsion system experienced a series of malfunctions within the first 24 hours of the flight. As a result, the astronauts have remained on the station for 79 days while Boeing investigated the problems.

During a press conference in Houston, NASA officials confirmed that Wilmore and Williams are safe and ready to stay longer than initially anticipated. They will use the additional time to conduct scientific experiments alongside the seven other astronauts on the station.

In an unusual shift for NASA’s astronaut operations, the two astronauts will now return in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. This spacecraft is set to launch next month as part of a routine astronaut rotation mission, with two of its four seats being kept empty for Wilmore and Williams.

This decision to utilize SpaceX for the return is significant for NASA, especially considering Boeing’s aspirations for Starliner to prove its capabilities following years of development challenges and significant budget overruns since 2016.

During the mission, five of Starliner’s 28 thrusters malfunctioned, and the spacecraft experienced several helium leaks, which are essential for maintaining thruster pressure. Despite these issues, it successfully docked with the ISS, a large laboratory that has hosted various crews over the last two decades.

NASA stated that Starliner is expected to undock from the ISS without a crew in early September, planning to perform an autonomous return to Earth. This means the spacecraft will forgo a core test objective that involved having a crew present during the re-entry process.

Boeing’s Starliner chief, Mark Nappi, expressed understanding of the difficult decision, emphasizing the commitment to prioritizing the safety of the crew and the spacecraft.

The decision was made during a Saturday morning meeting in Houston, where senior NASA officials and Boeing representatives unanimously agreed that Crew Dragon was the safest option for returning the astronauts. Boeing, while supporting the return through Starliner, maintained that the spacecraft was safe for flight.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson conveyed his confidence in Boeing’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by Starliner, stating that he was assured the company would continue working on the program.

Boeing has faced several setbacks during the development of Starliner, designed to serve as a competitor to Crew Dragon for crew transport to and from low Earth orbit. The program has also been impacted by quality control issues in its commercial airplane production.

Starliner previously failed an uncrewed test mission in 2019 but achieved partial success in a subsequent attempt in 2022, albeit with additional thruster problems. The mission in June was crucial for obtaining NASA’s certification for routine flights, but now the timeline for certification remains unclear.

The extended duration of the mission has cost Boeing approximately $125 million. The company has been conducting tests and simulations on Earth to provide data to assure NASA officials of Starliner’s safety for crew return. However, results from these studies raised further engineering concerns, leading to persistent apprehensions about the thrusters and the complexities involved in a crewed return.

According to NASA’s commercial crew program chief, Steve Stich, the uncertainty regarding thrusters played a significant role in the decision-making process.

Ultimately, the uncertain timeline for receiving NASA certification will add pressure for Boeing’s new CEO, as the company aims to recover its reputation following recent issues, notably an incident involving a door panel detached from a 737 MAX passenger aircraft mid-flight.