NASA Weighs Safety of Boeing’s Starliner for Astronaut Return

NASA will decide if Boeing's new capsule, Starliner, can safely bring back two astronauts from the International Space Station. The capsule experienced thruster failures and helium leaks, delaying its return. If deemed unsafe, SpaceX could be tasked with the retrieval. A decision is expected this weekend.

NASA announced on Thursday that a decision will be made this weekend regarding the safety of Boeing's new capsule, Starliner, to return two astronauts from the International Space Station. Administrator Bill Nelson, along with other top officials, will convene on Saturday, with an announcement expected from Houston post-meeting.

The astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, launched aboard Starliner on June 5. However, the test flight encountered significant thruster failures and helium leaks, prompting NASA to keep the capsule at the station as engineers deliberated. SpaceX could potentially retrieve the astronauts, but this alternative means they would remain at the station until February. Initially, their return was planned after just a week.

If NASA opts for SpaceX, Starliner would return to Earth empty in September. Engineers are currently assessing a new computer model to evaluate Starliner's thruster performance during re-entry. These evaluations and updated risk analyses will influence NASA's final decision. Boeing has claimed that extensive testing has demonstrated Starliner's safe return capabilities. This flight was Boeing's first crewed mission, delayed for years due to various issues, with previous test flights uncrewed. NASA had contracted Boeing and SpaceX a decade ago to transport astronauts post-space shuttle era, with SpaceX active since 2020.

(With inputs from agencies.)