NASA Downsizes Boeing Starliner Contract
Space agency cuts order from six missions to four, with an uncrewed test flight planned for no sooner than April.
Space agency cuts order from six missions to four, with an uncrewed test flight planned for no sooner than April.
Agency describes the flight as a ‘crew-capable post-certification mission’ but acknowledges the possibility of flying without astronauts.
NASA is considering flying the capsule without a crew on its next test flight.
NASA targets Tuesday at 5:57 p.m. for the return of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who flew to the ISS on Boeing Starliner’s inaugural crew flight test.
Wednesday launch attempt was scrubbed due to a hydraulic system issue on the ground, postponing NASA and SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission.
Arrival of new space station occupants will allow Starliner’s Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return home.
Manufacturer and NASA contractor says it could eliminate as many as 400 positions by April.
Company’s beleaguered human spaceflight program has now exceeded its NASA contract value by several billion dollars.
Plan for SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to return NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams was decided in August.
Two astronauts, including Starliner crewmember Suni Williams, step out to perform station maintenance.