Issues with Starliner: Astronauts stuck on ISS prolong their stay until February
NASA announced that Butch and Suni will rejoin Earth with Crew-9 in February the following year, as shared by NASA head Bill Nelson. The Starliner has been parked at the ISS since June early due to troubles with its engines, which were expected to last just eight days. Additionally, there were helium leaks within the spacecraft throughout its journey to the ISS.
Initially planned to return with Boeing's capsule, Wilmore and Williams will now travel back Earth with SpaceX's Dragon capsule instead. Currently, six astronauts reside on the ISS, which is home to the usual four crew members and the two Starliner astronauts. The scheduled SpaceX mission, initially set for last Sunday, has now been moved to late September. In the upcoming SpaceX mission "Crew-9," only two astronauts will fly alongside, returning the two Starliner astronauts to Earth in February.
Speaking about the decision, NASA head Bill Nelson said, "The continued stay of Wilmore and Williams on the ISS and the departure of the Starliner upright back to Earth is driven by our dedication to safety." During the scheduled return journey in early September, data on the Starliner spacecraft can be collected without endangering the crew, as explained by NASA.
NASA has maintained its faith in Boeing and will continue collaboration with the company, assured Nelson. The Starliner project has faced technical complications for years, putting Boeing at a disadvantage against SpaceX. NASA entered multi-billion dollar agreements with both companies in 2014 for ISS transportation. While SpaceX, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, has been sending astronauts to and from the ISS since 2020, Boeing only managed its first manned space station flight last June, which has since been stagnant in the ISS.
The Boeing capsule experienced issues with the thrusters required for smooth maneuvering during docking, while a minor helium leak was detected before its launch. Nevertheless, it was deemed insignificant to halt the launch. Sadly, more leaks surfaced during the flight.
The NASA, led by Bill Nelson, made the decision for Wilmore and Williams to return to Earth with SpaceX's Dragon capsule instead of Boeing's due to the ongoing issues with the Starliner's engines and helium leaks. Following their stay on the ISS, Butch and Suni from the Starliner crew will rejoin Earth with NASA's Crew-9 in February.
