NASA is contemplating whether to extend the stay of two astronauts at the International Space Station until early next year due to uncertainties surrounding their Boeing capsule. Test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were originally planned to be on a short mission, but issues with the Starliner capsule’s thrusters and helium leaks have raised concerns about its safe return to Earth.
One option being considered is to have Wilmore and Williams return to Earth on SpaceX’s next flight in February, instead of flying the problematic Starliner back. The decision will be made by the end of the following week after further analysis of data regarding the capsule’s thrusters, vital for a safe descent from orbit. NASA’s space operations mission chief, Ken Bowersox, emphasized the importance of using the available time wisely before bringing Starliner home.
If the astronauts switch to SpaceX, two of the four crew members scheduled for the next ferry flight in late September would need to be replaced. Wilmore and Williams would then take the empty seats in SpaceX’s Dragon capsule following the completion of its half-year mission. Complicating matters is the limited parking spots for U.S. capsules at the space station, requiring Boeing’s capsule to depart before SpaceX’s Dragon arrives.
NASA aims to maintain the current SpaceX crew at the space station until replacements arrive, unless an emergency arises. The uncertainty over Starliner has resulted in a seven-month extension for the crew that was supposed to return to Earth this month, now staying until the end of September. This situation highlights the importance of having multiple transportation options for crew members to and from the space station.
NASA hired SpaceX and Boeing to provide astronaut transportation services after the retirement of the shuttles in 2011. While SpaceX successfully completed its first astronaut flight in 2020, Boeing faced significant challenges and delays with its Starliner capsule, leading to extensive additional costs and delays in crewed flights.
