Boeing's Starliner astronauts could return to SpaceX capsule in February 2025, says NASA
WASHINGTON: NASA officials said on Wednesday that the two astronauts delivered to the International Space Station in June on Boeing's Starliner could return to SpaceX's crew. Dragon in February 2025 while Starliner is still considered unsafe to return to Earth.
The US space agency has discussed a possible plan with SpaceX to leave two empty seats on the upcoming Crew Dragon launch for NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who became the first crew Boeing's Starliner spacecraft flew.
The astronauts' test mission, which is expected to last eight days on the first station, has been delayed by problems with Starliner's propulsion system that have raised questions about the spacecraft's ability to return to space. them safely on earth as planned.
A Boeing spokesman said that if NASA decides to change the Starliner mission, the company will “take the necessary actions to adjust Starliner for a nonstop return.”
The failure of a thruster during the Starliner's first approach to the ISS in June and the release of several helium – used to propel the thrusters – caused Boeing to launch a campaign of test to understand the cause and propose a fix to NASA, who has the final say. Recent results have seen new news, causing more alarm about safe returns.
The latest test data has caused disagreement and debate within NASA about whether to accept the risk of returning Starliner to Earth, or make the call to use Crew Dragon instead.
SpaceX's use of space shuttles to bring back astronauts that Boeing plans to bring back on the Starliner would be a major blow to the aerospace giant, which has struggled for years to compete with SpaceX and its more experienced Crew Dragon. more.
Starliner is stationed at the ISS for at least 63 of its 90 days, and is docked at the port that Crew Dragon must use to deliver the next crew of astronauts.
On Tuesday morning, NASA, using a SpaceX rocket and a Northrop Grumman capsule, delivered food and regular supplies to the station, including extra clothes for Wilmore and Williams.
Starliner's high-altitude mission is a final test required before NASA can certify the spacecraft for regular astronaut flights to and from the ISS. Crew Dragon has received NASA approval for an astronaut flight in 2020.
The development of the Starliner was delayed by many administrative and technical problems. It has cost Boeing $1.6 billion since 2016, including $125 million from the current Starliner test mission.
WORKING WITH NASA
A meeting this week of NASA's Program Commercial Group, which oversees Starliner, ended with some officials not agreeing to plans to accept Boeing's test data. and will use Starliner to bring the astronauts home, officials said at a press conference.
“We didn't do any polling in the way we came to that conclusion,” said Steve Stich, Commercial Crew's program manager.
“We heard from many people who had concerns, and the decision was unclear,” said Ken Bowersox, NASA's space chief.
A Boeing executive was not at Wednesday's news conference.
Although no decision was made on whether to use Starliner or Crew Dragon, NASA bought Boeing more time to conduct more tests and collect more data to build a better case for trusting Starliner. NASA is expected to make a decision next week, officials said.
The agency on Tuesday delayed SpaceX's upcoming Crew Dragon mission, a routine flight called Crew-9, which is expected to send three NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut to the ISS.
The head of NASA's ISS program said the agency has not yet decided which astronauts will be removed from the mission for Wilmore and Williams if necessary.
Boeing's tests so far have shown that four of the Starliner jets failed in June because they overheated and died, while the other runners that fired during the test appeared to be weaker than the usual due to propellant limitations.
Ground tests in late July at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico helped reveal that excessive heat causes Teflon seals to crack, choking propellant tubes. for the processors and reduce their pressure.
“That, I would say, has raised the level of discomfort, and we don't have a complete understanding of the physics of what's going on,” said Stich, describing why NASA is now more willing to discuss the possibility 'the Crew Dragon after such hopes were dismissed. journalist.
