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Boeing Starliners return without sunita williams The recent decision to have Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her NASA colleague Butch Wilmore return to Earth aboard Elon Musk’s SpaceX Crew Dragon, instead of Boeing’s Starliner, underscores the challenges and risks inherent in space exploration. Originally, Williams and Wilmore were supposed to return to Earth aboard Boeing’s Starliner, but technical issues with the spacecraft’s thrusters led to a change in plans.
Boeing Starliner’s Setbacks
Boeing’s Starliner faced significant technical difficulties soon after its launch on June 5. Although the spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS), several of its thrusters malfunctioned. Specifically, five of Starliner’s 28 thrusters failed during the mission, and the spacecraft also experienced helium leaks, which are critical for pressurizing the thrusters. These issues led NASA to question whether the Starliner would be able to generate enough thrust to safely return to Earth with the astronauts on board.
Given the risks, NASA and Boeing decided it would be safer to return the Starliner to Earth without a crew. This uncrewed return will allow NASA and Boeing to gather further data on the spacecraft’s performance while minimizing risk to the astronauts.
The Role of SpaceX
In a rare operational reshuffling, NASA turned to SpaceX and its Crew Dragon spacecraft to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth. The SpaceX Crew-9 mission, initially planned to carry four astronauts, will now only carry two in order to accommodate Williams and Wilmore. The mission is scheduled to launch in late September, with the return flight planned for February next year.
This decision highlights NASA’s commitment to safety, as emphasized by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, who stated that the choice to keep the astronauts on the ISS and bring the Starliner back uncrewed was driven by safety considerations. Space flight, even in the most routine missions, carries inherent risks, and test flights like this one are particularly unpredictable.Boeing Starliners return without sunita williams
