Imagine planning an eight-day trip that turns into a two-month stay.
That’s the reality for NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
Unfortunately, the latest news is that they might not return to Earth until February 2025.
NASA has revealed a backup plan that involves sending a two-person crew on SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission in September.
However, even this mission wouldn’t bring the stranded astronauts back home right away.
This situation marks yet another setback for Boeing, which is already facing numerous challenges with its commercial jets.
Williams and Wilmore’s mission was supposed to last just eight days.
But after 60 days in space, the astronauts are still waiting for a safe way back to Earth.
Problems like thruster failures and helium leaks on the Starliner have forced NASA and Boeing to keep the astronauts in orbit longer than expected.
The fear? A disastrous return trip if the spacecraft isn’t fully functional.
Despite these issues, Boeing remains confident in the Starliner’s ability to bring the astronauts back safely.
However, experts suggest otherwise.
In June, some even speculated that NASA might need to turn to Elon Musk’s SpaceX for a rescue mission.
Mike Gruntman, a professor of astronautics at the University of Southern California, believes SpaceX could step in to safely return the astronauts sooner rather than later.
He also called Boeing’s ongoing troubles “a national tragedy.”
The problems with Boeing’s Starliner come on top of other issues with the company’s commercial jets.
Mechanical failures and turbulence problems have cost Boeing billions, and now the space program is under scrutiny as well.
NASA had awarded Boeing a $4.2 billion contract to develop Starliner as a reliable taxi for astronauts to the ISS.
However, internal discussions within NASA’s Commercial Crew Program show mixed opinions on whether to accept Boeing’s testing data and use Starliner to bring the astronauts home.
NASA officials expect to make a decision soon, possibly next week.
But as of now, the situation remains uncertain.
Boeing has been conducting tests to identify and fix the issues with Starliner, but concerns are growing.
In July, tests at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico revealed that overheating thrusters caused Teflon seals to warp, which then choked the fuel supply and weakened the spacecraft’s thrust.
Safety Concerns and Setbacks
The situation has led to increased discomfort within NASA about relying on Starliner for the return mission.
While some officials had previously downplayed the possibility of using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon as a backup, that option is now being seriously considered.
Starliner’s problems began even before the June 5 launch, which was delayed due to a helium leak detected in May.
Further issues arose when the capsule’s computer system automatically halted the launch just minutes before liftoff.
These setbacks have led to growing concerns about the spacecraft’s safety.
A Complicated Return Mission
As Boeing works to address these issues, the question remains: How and when will the astronauts return to Earth?
The answer is still up in the air, but one thing is clear—NASA is racing against time to find a solution before the situation escalates further.