NASA Chooses SpaceX Dragon for Sunita William’s Return After Starliner Delays

News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/25th August 2024

NASA has selected SpaceX to transport astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore back to Earth after their extended mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Initially, the astronauts arrived at the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule 80 days ago, embarking on what was supposed to be an eight-day mission. However, due to critical technical problems with the Starliner, their stay has been prolonged.

The astronauts are now expected to return to Earth in February of next year, after spending a total of eight months in space. They will make their journey back aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, which is slated to launch next month as part of a routine crew rotation mission.

NASA’s decision to utilize SpaceX for this return mission follows concerns about the safety of Boeing’s Starliner. According to NASA chief Bill Nelson, the propulsion system of the Starliner has proven too risky to ensure a safe return of its crew. Consequently, the Starliner will undock from the ISS without any astronauts on board and will attempt to return to Earth as if it were carrying crew members.

This decision marks a significant setback for Boeing’s Starliner program. Boeing had hoped that this mission would help revitalize their struggling space capsule project, which has encountered numerous development issues and budget overruns exceeding $1.6 billion since its inception in 2016.

In contrast, the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, scheduled for late September, will carry only two astronauts, rather than the initially planned four. The Crew Dragon spacecraft will dock at the ISS and remain there until February, when it will return to Earth with its own crew as well as the two astronauts currently stranded due to the Starliner issues.

The mission began on June 5 when Williams and Wilmore, both seasoned NASA astronauts and former military test pilots, became the first crew to travel aboard the Starliner capsule. Their extended stay at the ISS underscores the ongoing challenges facing Boeing’s spacecraft and highlights the reliability of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in maintaining crew safety and mission timelines.

NASA’s choice of SpaceX for this crucial return mission reflects the agency’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its astronauts and the success of its space missions, even amid the difficulties faced by its commercial partners.