“Sunita Williams to Return from ISS Aboard SpaceX After Boeing Starliner Setbacks”

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her NASA colleague Butch Wilmore, who were initially scheduled to return to Earth aboard Boeing’s Starliner, will now make their journey home on Elon Musk’s SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. The decision follows a series of technical setbacks with the Starliner, which was expected to complete an eight-day test mission after launching to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5.

The astronauts’ return was delayed by weeks due to malfunctions in the Starliner’s thrusters. NASA announced that Williams and Wilmore would return to Earth in February next year via SpaceX, while the Starliner will return uncrewed.

Boeing’s Starliner Setbacks

Boeing’s Starliner faced significant issues shortly after its launch. Despite successfully reaching the ISS, the spacecraft experienced multiple technical failures, including helium leaks and the malfunctioning of five of its 28 thrusters. These issues raised concerns about the Starliner’s ability to safely return the astronauts to Earth, leading NASA to make the difficult decision to transfer the crew to a SpaceX mission.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of safety in space missions, stating, “Our core value is safety. Space flight is risky even at its safest and even at its most routine.” He added that a test flight is inherently risky and that the decision to return the Starliner uncrewed reflects NASA’s commitment to minimizing unnecessary risks.

How SpaceX Will Bring Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Home

In a rare operational reshuffling, NASA has arranged for Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to return aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. The SpaceX Crew-9 mission, now scheduled for late September, will take off after the Starliner has departed from the ISS, freeing up a docking port. The Crew-9 mission will carry only two astronauts instead of the originally planned four, making room for Williams and Wilmore.

This decision highlights NASA’s flexibility in managing space missions and its reliance on SpaceX as a dependable partner in its astronaut operations. The uncrewed return of Starliner will allow NASA and Boeing to gather essential data on the spacecraft’s performance, while prioritizing the safety of its crew.

As Boeing continues to address the technical challenges of the Starliner, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon is once again stepping in to ensure the safe return of NASA astronauts, underscoring the critical role of collaboration in space exploration.

Sources By Agencies

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