NASA and Boeing are continuing to evaluate Starliner for return to Earth and are considering reserving seats for Wilmore and Williams on the upcoming Crew-9 mission.
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft docked with the International Space Station module Credit: NASA
NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams have had a bit of an extended trip to space. Since their Takeoff on June 5th Aboard the Boeing Starliner from Florida's Space Coast, astronauts have remained on the International Space Station (ISS) alongside the Expedition 71 crew after problems arose with the spacecraft.
Before Wilmore and Williams arrived at the ISS, the Starliner spacecraft saw five of its The small thrusters fail and a helium leak occurs.The problems indefinitely postponed the astronauts' return to Earth, originally planned for a week after launch.
Related: Boeing Starliner launches NASA astronauts on mission to ISS
Hot fire test
Several teams are working to bring Wilmore and Williams back to Earth. On July 27, NASA and Boeing completed a second hot-fire test of the docked Starliner. The test was intended to evaluate the spacecraft’s propulsion system. Both Wilmore and Williams were seated in the spacecraft as part of the test, which was intended to allow the NASA and Boeing teams to assess helium delivery and leak rates.
During the test, 27 of the spacecraft's 28 thrusters were fired one at a time in short bursts. The thruster performance and helium leak rates of each thruster in turn were evaluated. According to NASA's Commercial Crew Program Blog“Preliminary results show that all tested propellants have returned to pre-flight levels based on thrust and chamber pressure.”
On August 1 and 6, later Blog publications As of August 6, NASA and Boeing teams were still evaluating the test results, with the goal of confirming the reliability of the system for the Starliner spacecraft's return to Earth. The August 6 post also stated that NASA and SpaceX are now targeting a launch of the Crew-9 mission to the ISS no earlier than September 24. (The launch was originally scheduled for August 18.) “This adjustment allows more time for mission managers to finalize return planning for the agency's Boeing Crew Flight Test, currently docked to the orbiting laboratory,” The charge read.
There are currently six spacecraft docked at the station, including the Starliner, several resupply ships, a Russian Soyuz crew capsule and the SpaceX Crew Dragon. EndeavorThe ISS has only two docking ports designed to accommodate SpaceX or Boeing crew capsules, both of which are currently occupied.
Other open options
According to a media update this morning, NASA has not yet set a return date for the astronauts.
Additionally, officials noted that they “have other options open,” according to Steve Stich, director of NASA's commercial crew program. “We've been working with SpaceX to make sure they're ready to respond with Crew-9 as a contingency,” he said.
If that were the case, NASA would send only two of the four astronauts planned in the SpaceX Dragon capsule designated for the mission. Wilmore and Williams would occupy the two empty seats on the ship's return in February 2025.
If Williams and Wilmore travel on a SpaceX ship, the Starliner could return to Earth uncrewed.
“Boeing remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to safely return with crew. We continue to support NASA’s requests for additional testing, data, analysis and review to confirm the spacecraft’s ability to safely undock and land. Our confidence is based on this wealth of valuable testing from Boeing and NASA,” Boeing said in a statement. Press release.
