NASA: Starliner Astronauts May Not Return Until February

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been on the International Space Station for more than two months despite an intended eight-day stay.

Wednesday, August 07, 2024 at 04:41 PM ET

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NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have spent two months aboard the International Space Station and may not return until February. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA astronauts on Boeing Starliner's Crew Flight Test have been on the ISS for over two months, far exceeding their planned eight-day stay, and may not return until February due to waning confidence in Starliner's ability to safely bring them home.
Concerns stem from unresolved technical issues, primarily five faulty reaction control system (RCS) thrusters linked to a tiny Teflon seal, though recent tests show some thrusters are now firing as expected.
NASA is seriously evaluating an alternative plan for the astronauts to return via SpaceX's Crew-9 mission in February, which would require Starliner to autonomously undock uncrewed and for Crew-9 to launch with only two astronauts.
There is internal disagreement between Boeing and NASA regarding Starliner's readiness for return, with NASA seeking a full understanding of the root cause before committing, and a final decision expected by mid-August.

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NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have now spent more than two months on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Boeing Starliner’s crew flight test (CFT), which the space agency intended to be an eight-day stay. NASA now says they may not return until February.

NASA officials on Wednesday held a media briefing, during which stakeholders revealed that confidence in Starliner’s ability to return the astronauts is waning. According to Ken Bowersox, associate administrator of the agency’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, teams are “getting more serious about evaluating our other options.”

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.