NASA Decides Boeing's Starliner Is Too Risky For Return | SpaceX Crew Dragon Takes Over

Summary

NASA has decided that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams will return from the International Space Station on SpaceX's Crew Dragon, not Boeing's Starliner, due to concerns over Starliner's propulsion system. The Starliner faced multiple issues, including RCS thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, prompting a cautious approach for crew safety. The astronauts have been in space for 80 days, significantly longer than planned, but are not stranded and have sufficient supplies. The Starliner will return uncrewed, and the decision has raised questions about Boeing's spacecraft program.

Takeaways

• 🚀 NASA has decided that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Mike Fincke will return to Earth on SpaceX's Crew Dragon, not on Boeing's Starliner as originally planned.
• 🛰️ The Starliner spacecraft encountered multiple issues during its mission, including problems with its reaction control system thrusters and helium leaks.
• 🔧 Despite the issues, Boeing and NASA teams were able to restore functionality to some of the thrusters and manage the helium leaks, but not enough to gain full confidence for a crewed return.
• ⏱️ The mission duration for Butch and Sunny has been extended significantly, with them spending over 80 days in space, much longer than the initial plan.
• 🤔 NASA's decision to use a different spacecraft for the return journey was primarily due to concerns over the safety of Starliner's propulsion system.
• 👨‍🚀 Astronauts Butch and Sunny are not stranded; they have sufficient resources on the ISS and can utilize another spacecraft as a safe haven if necessary.
• 🔄 The return of Starliner to Earth will be uncrewed, with the spacecraft conducting an autonomous undocking, deorbit burn, and landing.
• 🔄 The delay of SpaceX's Crew-9 mission allowed additional time for NASA and Boeing to assess the situation and make a decision regarding the return of the astronauts.
• 🛠️ The outcome of this mission will influence future plans for Boeing's Starliner program, including the potential for operational missions without a crewed return during the flight test.
• 📅 The first operational mission of Starliner is currently scheduled for Autumn 2025, but the current situation might have implications for that timeline.

Q & A

Why did NASA decide not to use Starliner for the return trip of Butch and Sunny?

NASA decided not to use Starliner for the return trip due to multiple issues with the spacecraft's propulsion system, including helium leaks and thruster shutdowns, which posed too great a risk for a safe undocking and deorbit.

What were the specific problems encountered with Starliner's reaction control system thrusters?

Five of Starliner's reaction control system thrusters went offline due to the software disabling them when certain parameters were out of bounds, such as slower ramp up to full power or lower thrust than expected.

How did the astronauts and NASA respond to the thruster issues during the mission?

NASA and Boeing were able to return four out of the five thrusters to operation by firing each thruster individually to ensure they were working as expected. The team at White Sands conducted tests to replicate the loss of thrust and identified a swelling on the Teflon seat as the cause of the thruster issues.

What was the significance of the helium leaks detected in Starliner?

The helium leaks were significant because they indicated potential problems with the spacecraft's propulsion system. Boeing had to use extra helium to repressurize the system, and additional leaks were detected, raising concerns about the safety of the return trip.

How long were Butch and Sunny expected to stay in space, and how did the mission duration change?

Butch and Sunny were initially expected to stay in space for a mission duration of 8 days, but they ended up staying for 80 days, which is 10 times longer than the original schedule.

What is the role of the SpaceX Crew Dragon in this decision by NASA?

The SpaceX Crew Dragon will be used as the return vehicle for Butch and Sunny, as NASA has decided that Starliner is not safe enough for their return. This is a significant decision as it involves using a competitor's spacecraft for the return trip.

What is the plan for the return of Butch and Sunny if they cannot use Starliner?

Butch and Sunny will return on SpaceX's Crew Dragon as part of the Crew-9 mission in February next year. Meanwhile, Starliner will perform an autonomous uncrewed undocking, deorbit burn, and landing in the Southwest United States.

How does this decision impact the future of the Starliner program?

This decision could have significant consequences for the future of the Starliner program, potentially leading to reviews or even a cancellation. It also raises questions about Boeing's ability to deliver on its commercial crew contract with NASA.

What is the significance of the date set for the return of Butch and Sunny?

The return of Butch and Sunny is scheduled for next February, which is significant as it allows for a crew handover on board the ISS and aligns with the timeline of the Crew-9 mission.

What contingency plans are in place for the safe haven of the ISS crew during the transition period?

The Crew Dragon Endeavor, serving the Crew-8 mission, will be outfitted to act as a safe haven for Butch and Sunny during the period when neither their original Starliner nor the incoming Crew-9 Dragon are docked to the ISS.