The fate of the two astronauts has finally been revealed as NASA officially announced that they will return to Earth aboard a SpaceX spacecraft.
NASA launched Boeing's Starliner spacecraft carrying astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in early June 2024. The mission to the International Space Station was originally scheduled to take about eight days to complete in a best-case scenario.
That schedule was quickly put in jeopardy as astronauts were unable to solve the Starliner's problems due to helium leaks and thruster control issues.
“Space flight, even the safest and most routine flight, involves risks.”
More than two months after the astronauts were stranded on the International Space Station, NASA has finally announced that it will accept assistance from Elon Musk's SpaceX Dragon Crew 9 to return Wilmore and Williams safely home.
However, SpaceX's spacecraft has yet to launch: Crew 9 was originally scheduled to launch to the ISS on August 18, 2024, but was later postponed until September 24, 2024. Space Flight Now.
And a mission run by a rival company won't return until February 2025 at the earliest, meaning NASA astronauts will spend at least eight more months in space than originally planned.
Boeing representatives did not attend the NASA press conference. CNN However, they later issued a statement.
“We remain focused first and foremost on the safety of our crew and spacecraft. We are executing the mission as determined by NASA and preparing the spacecraft for a safe and uncrewed return,” the defense and space contractor wrote. X.
NASA, meanwhile, issued a more blunt statement.
“Space flight involves risks, even the safest and most routine flights. Test flights are inherently neither safe nor routine. The decision to leave Butch and Suni behind on the International Space Station and return Boeing Starliner uncrewed is a reflection of our commitment to safety, our core value and our North Star,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. press“We thank both the NASA and Boeing teams for their outstanding and detailed work.”
These comments are a big leap from NASA's statement in early August 2024, in which the space agency appeared to want to avoid any clashes with SpaceX.
“Our first option is to complete the mission,” NASA program manager Steve Stich said at the time. “There are many reasons to complete this mission and bring Butch and Suni home aboard Starliner, which was designed as a spacecraft, with a crew in the cockpit.”
In an August 2 blog post, Boeing said its “Trust remains high“The Starliner will be heading home with its crew.”
“Based on the numerous tests our teams and NASA have conducted in space and on the ground, we remain confident in Starliner's ability to safely return it and its crew to Earth,” Boeing wrote. X.
Of course, NASA and Boeing eventually came to terms with the situation and agreed to return in Musk's own spacecraft. Either way, SpaceX was reportedly testing a scenario with additional astronauts on board in early August.
Crew 9's flight will leave two empty seats and one spacesuit for Williams and Wilmore to take part in the ISS mission and eventual return.
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