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

LiveNOW from FOX

24 Aug 202403:15

Summary

TLDRNASA 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.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 NASA and Boeing's Decision on Starliner Mission

The opening remarks introduce the decision by NASA to send Butch and Sunny back with Crew 9 in February, while the Starliner will return uncrewed. The specifics of the schedule are to be discussed later. It is emphasized that Boeing, in collaboration with NASA, has diligently worked to gather data for this decision. The aim is to understand the root causes and design improvements to ensure the Boeing Starliner becomes a crucial part of the assured crew access to the International Space Station (ISS). The speaker has communicated with Boeing's new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, who has shown commitment to continue addressing issues once the Starliner returns safely. The importance of redundancy and crude access to the space station is highlighted. The discussion is contextualized by past mistakes and the loss of two space shuttles, underscoring the necessity of a culture where information can be freely shared. The speaker encourages employees to voice objections and acknowledges the inherent risks of spaceflight, even during test flights. The decision to keep the crew aboard the ISS and to bring the Starliner back uncrewed is framed as a commitment to safety, which is a core value and the guiding principle for NASA and Boeing.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Butch and Sunny

Butch and Sunny are likely the names of the astronauts mentioned in the script who will return with Crew 9. The term is significant as it highlights the human aspect of space missions and the decision to keep these individuals aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is a central theme of the video.

💡Crew 9

Crew 9 refers to the ninth crewed mission to the ISS, which is a part of NASA's ongoing efforts to maintain a continuous human presence in space. The script indicates that Butch and Sunny will return with this mission, emphasizing the continuity and planning of space travel.

💡Starliner

The Boeing Starliner is a spacecraft designed for crewed missions to the ISS. In the script, it is mentioned that Starliner will return uncrewed, which is a key decision point discussed in the video, highlighting the focus on safety and the technical aspects of space missions.

💡NASA

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is the United States government agency responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. The script discusses NASA's decision-making process, emphasizing its role in overseeing and coordinating space missions.

💡Boeing

Boeing is an American multinational corporation known for aerospace and defense, and it is the company that developed the Starliner spacecraft. The script mentions Boeing's collaboration with NASA and its commitment to safety and problem-solving, which is central to the narrative.

💡Root causes

Root causes refer to the underlying reasons for a problem or issue. In the script, the speaker mentions the need to understand the root causes of any issues to improve design, which is crucial for ensuring the safety and success of future space missions.

💡Design improvements

Design improvements are changes made to enhance the functionality, safety, or efficiency of a product or system. The script discusses the importance of making design improvements to the Starliner to serve as an important part of assured crew access to the ISS.

💡International Space Station (ISS)

The ISS is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five space agencies. The script mentions the ISS as the destination and operational base for the missions discussed.

💡Safety

Safety is a core value in space missions, ensuring the well-being of astronauts and the success of the mission. The script repeatedly emphasizes the commitment to safety as the driving factor behind the decisions made regarding the Starliner and the astronauts.

💡Redundancy

In the context of the script, redundancy refers to the backup systems or alternative methods available to ensure mission success even if primary systems fail. The speaker mentions the importance of redundancy in maintaining access to the space station.

💡Spaceflight

Spaceflight is the act of traveling through outer space. The script acknowledges the inherent risks of spaceflight, even during routine and test flights, reinforcing the importance of safety and careful decision-making.

💡Test flight

A test flight is a mission conducted to evaluate the performance and safety of a new or modified vehicle or system. The script refers to the Starliner's uncrewed return as a test flight, indicating that it is an opportunity to gather data and learn from the mission.

Highlights

NASA has decided to send Butch and Sunny back with Crew 9 in February.

Starliner will return uncrewed, with specifics to be discussed later.

Boeing has been working closely with NASA to provide necessary data for the decision.

The goal is to understand the root causes and design improvements for the Boeing Starliner.

Boeing Starliner is intended to be an important part of assured crew access to the ISS.

The new Boeing CEO, Kelly Ortberg, has been informed and supports the decision.

There is an intention to continue working on problems once Starliner is back safely.

The decision to keep Butch and Sunny on the ISS and return Starliner uncrewed is based on safety.

Safety is a core value and the guiding principle in this decision-making process.

The collaboration between NASA and Boeing teams is acknowledged for their detailed work.

The past mistakes with the loss of space shuttles have influenced the current cautious approach.

A culture of openness and information sharing is being fostered within the organization.

Spaceflight is inherently risky, even during its safest and most routine operations.

Test flights are not considered safe or routine by nature.

The decision emphasizes the commitment to safety in space exploration.

Jim will take over the discussion after the opening remarks.