NASA is currently deliberating whether to use Boeing’s Starliner capsule or SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for the return of astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Starliner capsule, which carried astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to the ISS in early June, has faced issues with its thrusters during docking, and the root cause of these failures remains undetermined.
The decision is complicated by ongoing concerns about the Star liner’s performance. The spacecraft, which has been in orbit for 59 days, was initially scheduled for a minimum nine-day mission. This timeline has been extended several times while further testing is conducted to resolve the thruster issue. Despite public assurances from NASA and Boeing that the extensions are part of routine data collection, internal confidence in the spacecraft’s safety for crew return appears to be waning.
Boeing asserts that the Starliner is capable of returning the astronauts safely and is actively working to address the thruster issue. The company is cooperating with NASA’s request for additional data and analysis to confirm the spacecraft’s readiness for return.
Should NASA decide to return Starliner empty, the astronauts could be brought back using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. This would involve reconfiguring the Crew-9 mission to accommodate Wilmore and Williams, effectively reducing the crew size of the upcoming launch.
NASA has not yet reached a decision and is continuing to evaluate all options. The agency’s Commercial Crew Program Control Board, which is overseeing the decision-making process, has not yet scheduled a flight readiness review for Starliner. The PCB’s upcoming meetings will be critical in determining the path forward.
The outcome of this decision has significant implications for both NASA and Boeing. A choice to return the astronauts with Starliner could potentially expose NASA to considerable risk if further thruster malfunctions occur. Conversely, opting for SpaceX could indicate a loss of confidence in Boeing and could affect the company’s future involvement in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
