Recently, NASA officials held a news conference to address concerns within the agency regarding the reliability of the Starliner spacecraft for returning astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from the International Space Station.
Confirming recent reports by Ars, NASA disclosed that they have been collaborating with SpaceX on a potential rescue mission for the astronauts. This has led to a delay in the Crew-9 mission launch, now scheduled for September 24, as Starliner is currently unable to undock autonomously.
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s chief of space human spaceflight operations, mentioned ongoing discussions between NASA engineers and Boeing about the 28 thrusters on Starliner used for maneuvering. These discussions have led to debates on the best approach for the astronauts’ return.
NASA is considering two options for bringing Wilmore and Williams back to Earth: either on Starliner later this month or early September, or joining the Crew-9 mission and returning in February 2025.
Bowersox emphasized the need for a decision by mid-August, hinting at a swift resolution in the coming weeks.
Thruster Challenges
NASA’s concerns stem from the failure of five thrusters during Starliner’s ascent to the space station, causing the flight computer to shut them off. Ground and space tests revealed issues with a Teflon seal in the thrusters, impacting propellant flow.
Despite efforts to understand the root cause of the thruster failures, engineers are still working to grasp the exact mechanism behind the malfunctions.
Steve Stich, overseeing NASA’s Commercial Crew program, expressed the team’s dedication to unraveling the physics behind the thruster challenges to ensure a safe return for the astronauts.