NASA administrator Bill Nelson announced that US astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore will be returning with the SpaceX Crew-9 mission in February after spending over 80 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This decision came after NASA Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich revealed that they found too much uncertainty in the prediction of the thrusters on Boeing’s Starliner. Stich mentioned that if they had a way to accurately predict the thrusters’ behavior, they may have chosen a different course of action. However, due to the potential thruster failures and the safety risks for the crew, NASA decided to pursue an uncrewed test flight for the return of the spacecraft.
Responding to concerns about how NASA can trust Boeing again after this incident, NASA Associate Administrator Ken Bowersox acknowledged that there were tense discussions regarding the decision. He emphasized the importance of keeping the team together and mentioned that there is work to be done in rebuilding trust with Boeing. Despite the challenges faced, Bowersox stated that NASA remains committed to working with Boeing in the future. Stich also weighed in on Boeing’s efforts, noting that they did a great job building a model. However, the disagreement stemmed from the level of risk involved, highlighting the different approaches to evaluating risk between NASA and Boeing.
Initially, the two astronauts were planned to spend only eight days aboard the ISS following a successful launch of Boeing’s Starliner on June 5th. However, thruster failures, helium leaks, and valve issues during docking with the ISS led to a change in plans. Tests conducted at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility suggested that deformed Teflon seals could have contributed to the thruster failures. With limited access to the spacecraft docked at the ISS, NASA had to weigh the options between returning the astronauts via the Starliner or scheduling an early return with SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission in February next year.
The decision to return US astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore with the SpaceX Crew-9 mission highlights the challenges and uncertainties faced in space missions. NASA’s careful evaluation of risks and commitment to ensuring the safety of crew members are paramount in making such critical decisions. Moving forward, collaboration with aerospace partners like Boeing and SpaceX will continue to play a vital role in advancing space exploration and ensuring the success of future missions.