Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, might find themselves on the International Space Station (ISS) until February 2025 due to complications with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Initially, the Starliner was supposed to ferry the astronauts back to Earth after a week-long mission on the ISS. However, problems with the spacecraft, which emerged during its first crewed test flight, have raised concerns about its reliability.
The Starliner launched on June 5th, with plans to stay docked at the ISS for about a week before returning to Earth. Despite multiple delays due to minor technical issues, the spacecraft still encountered problems on launch day, including small helium leaks that engineers deemed manageable. However, once it arrived at the ISS, additional helium leaks were detected, and five of the spacecraft's 28 thrusters failed. Although Wilmore and Williams safely boarded the ISS, their return to Earth remains uncertain as their mission extends beyond the original timeline.
Ken Bowersox, a NASA official, emphasized the experimental nature of this mission during an August 7th press conference, acknowledging the higher risks associated with a test flight. NASA is currently divided over whether the potential risks of more leaks and thruster malfunctions are too great to allow a crewed return on the Starliner.
Efforts to replicate and understand the issues experienced by Starliner in space through ground tests have seen some progress, but uncertainties remain. NASA’s Steve Stich highlighted the difficulty in matching the spacecraft’s in-orbit behavior with ground test results, leaving the safety of a return flight in question.
In the event that Starliner is deemed too risky for a crewed return, contingency plans are in place. One option involves reconfiguring Starliner’s software for an autonomous, uncrewed return to Earth. Another involves modifying the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule currently docked at the ISS to accommodate Wilmore and Williams for their return. Alternatively, the next Crew Dragon mission, scheduled for launch in September, could bring the astronauts back. Originally intended to carry four astronauts to the ISS, this mission might be adapted to include Wilmore and Williams, potentially extending their stay in space from eight days to nearly eight months.
NASA has instructed SpaceX and Boeing to begin the necessary preparations for these scenarios, although no final decision has been made. ISS manager Dana Weigel stressed that these are merely backup plans, with a decision expected by mid-August. The implications of this situation on NASA's Commercial Crew Program are still unfolding, as the agency navigates the challenges of ensuring astronaut safety while advancing its partnerships with commercial spaceflight companies.