NASA has announced that the rescue mission for two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) will be delayed until February, citing safety concerns and technical challenges. The astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, were initially scheduled to return to Earth in June after an eight-day mission aboard the Boeing-built Starliner capsule. However, ongoing technical issues with the Starliner, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, have extended their stay on the ISS for several months.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson revealed over the weekend that the agency will attempt to undock the troubled Starliner capsule from the ISS and bring it back to Earth for an uncrewed landing in New Mexico. The decision to postpone the astronauts’ return was made after months of testing and deliberation, with NASA officials concluding that the risks associated with the Starliner capsule’s current state were too great to bring the astronauts home as initially planned.
Instead, Wilmore and Williams will be returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in February. SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has been tasked with the rescue mission, a move that has reportedly caused significant embarrassment within Boeing. The rivalry between Boeing and SpaceX has been well-documented, and this latest development is seen as a major blow to Boeing’s reputation, particularly given the high stakes of manned space missions.
An anonymous Boeing employee expressed frustration and humiliation over NASA’s decision to rely on SpaceX for the rescue. “We have had so many embarrassments lately, we’re under a microscope. This just made it, like, 100 times worse,” the employee said. “We hate SpaceX. We talk s–t about them all the time, and now they’re bailing us out. It’s shameful. I’m embarrassed, I’m horrified.”
The Starliner program has faced numerous setbacks since its inception, with the current issues adding to the growing list of challenges for Boeing. The company has been working to rectify the problems with the Starliner capsule, but the delays have highlighted the complexities and risks associated with human spaceflight.
NASA’s Ken Bowersox, Associate Administrator for Space Operations, emphasized that the decision to delay the astronauts’ return was unanimous among the mission team. “Our priority is the safety of our astronauts. After careful consideration, we decided that waiting until February to bring them home on a SpaceX capsule is the best course of action.”
As NASA prepares for the uncrewed return of the Starliner capsule and the upcoming SpaceX mission, the situation remains tense within Boeing. The company is under significant pressure to resolve the issues with the Starliner program and restore confidence in its ability to safely transport astronauts to and from space.
