BREAKING: Astronauts in space expected to return to Earth February 2025 | LiveNOW from FOX

Summary

NASA has announced that astronauts Butch and Sunny will return with Crew 9 in February, while the Boeing Starliner will return uncrewed. The decision to keep the astronauts aboard the ISS and bring the Starliner back without a crew is rooted in a commitment to safety, following a collaborative effort with Boeing to understand root causes and design improvements. NASA and Boeing emphasize the importance of a culture where information can be shared freely to ensure the safety and success of spaceflight missions.

Takeaways

• 🚀 NASA has chosen Butch and Sunny to return with Crew 9 in February, indicating a decision on the crew's return mission.
• 🛰️ The Boeing Starliner will return uncrewed, suggesting a focus on the spacecraft's performance without human occupants.
• 🔍 An emphasis on understanding the root causes and design improvements for the Starliner, highlighting a commitment to learning from past issues.
• 🤝 Boeing has been actively collaborating with NASA to gather data for decision-making, showing a partnership approach.
• 🛠️ The intention to continue working on problems after Starliner's safe return is mentioned, indicating a proactive stance on addressing issues.
• 👩‍💼 A new Boeing CEO, Kelly Ortberg, has been introduced and is aware of the decision and the ongoing collaboration with NASA.
• 🔄 The importance of redundancy and assured crew access to the International Space Station (ISS) is stressed, underlining the mission's significance.
• 🗣️ A culture of open communication is encouraged, especially for employees to voice objections, reflecting a safety-first approach.
• ⚠️ Spaceflight is acknowledged as inherently risky, even during test flights, which are neither safe nor routine by nature.
• 🛑 The decision to keep the crew aboard the ISS and return the Starliner uncrewed is a result of a strong commitment to safety.
• 🌟 The core value of safety is identified as the guiding principle in making decisions, with gratitude expressed to all involved teams.

Q & A

Who are Butch and Sunny, and what is their role in the mission mentioned in the script?

Butch and Sunny are likely the nicknames for the crew members who are scheduled to return with Crew 9 in February. They are part of the mission involving the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

What is the current status of the Boeing Starliner mission?

The Boeing Starliner is planned to return uncrewed, with the specifics of the schedule to be discussed later.

What has Boeing been working on with NASA in relation to the Starliner mission?

Boeing has been working closely with NASA to gather the necessary data to make decisions regarding the mission, understand root causes of issues, and design improvements for the Starliner to ensure crew access to the ISS.

What was the purpose of the conversation between the speaker and Boeing's new CEO, Kelly Ortberg?

The conversation was to express the collaborative efforts between Boeing and the speaker's team in reaching the decision about the Starliner mission and to convey the CEO's intention to continue working on the problems once the Starliner is back safely.

What is the significance of the redundancy and crew access to the space station mentioned by the speaker?

Redundancy and crew access to the International Space Station (ISS) are crucial for maintaining a safe and continuous human presence there, ensuring that there are alternative means of reaching the ISS in case of mission failures or emergencies.

What past mistakes are referred to in the script, and what lessons have been learned from them?

The script refers to the loss of two space shuttles due to a lack of a culture where information could be freely shared. The lesson learned is the importance of open communication and a commitment to safety in spaceflight operations.

Why is the decision to keep Butch and Sunny aboard the International Space Station and return the Starliner uncrewed considered?

The decision is a result of a commitment to safety, which is a core value and the guiding principle (Northstar) for the mission, ensuring the well-being of the crew and the success of the mission.

What does the speaker mean by 'Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest'?

The speaker emphasizes that despite all precautions and safety measures, spaceflight inherently involves risks, and even the most routine test flights cannot be considered completely safe.

What is the role of the speaker in this script, and what decision has been reached?

The speaker appears to be a representative or spokesperson for NASA, discussing the decision regarding the Boeing Starliner mission and the collaboration with Boeing.

Who is Jim, and what is his role in the context of this script?

Jim is likely another speaker or panel member who is to continue the discussion or presentation after the current speaker has finished speaking.

What is the 'Northstar' mentioned by the speaker, and how does it relate to the mission?

The 'Northstar' is a metaphor for the guiding principle or core value that the speaker's organization follows, which in this case is safety, and it is central to the decision-making process for the mission.