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At a press conference on Wednesday, NASA officials said the two Starliner astronauts currently aboard the ISS may need to return to Earth on Crew Dragon next year if Starliner is found to be unsafe.
Boeing’s Starliner test mission to the ISS launched on June 5th and was originally scheduled to last around eight days. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have now been in space for over 60 days and are using up supplies meant for the ISS crew.
According to Boeing’s tests, four of Starliner’s jets failed in June due to overheating, helium leaks have been detected in the propulsion system, and thrusters are weaker than normal due to a restriction with propellant.
Wednesday’s discussions saw US space agency officials in talks with SpaceX regarding the possibility of leaving two seats empty on the Crew Dragon launch. This would mean two of the astronauts currently scheduled to fly will remain at home.
Crew Dragon itself was delayed by a month on Tuesday, with the mission now scheduled to launch on September 24th. Crew-9 won’t return to Earth until February 2025.
Space X Decision Could Spell Bad News for Boeing
Starliner has already been docked at the ISS for 63 out of its maximum 90 days, and is using the same port Crew Dragon will need for docking. If NASA decides Wilmore and Williams will return home on the SpaceX craft, Boeing will need to update Starliner’s software to allow it to autonomously undock and make the uncrewed mission back to Earth, with the flight control team also requiring additional training.
Boeing’s commercial crew program manager, Mark Nappi, said he regretted stating so vehemently that the mission would only last eight days. On August 2nd, Boeing stated that its “confidence remains high in Starliner’s return with crew.”
It will be bad news for Boeing if NASA decides that SpaceX, its biggest competitor, will bring the Starliner crew back to earth. Boeing has already made huge losses on the Starliner program, totalling $11.6 billion to date.
The final decision on which spacecraft will bring the astronauts home lies with NASA, and is expected by mid-August.
