NASA has decided to bring Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft back to Earth without a crew on board. Instead, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will return on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in February. Their mission on the ISS, originally planned for eight days, will now extend to eight months due to issues with the Starliner.
The spacecraft faced problems even before launch, with helium leaks being detected. Additional engine issues arose during the journey to the station, putting the mission at risk. NASA has now decided to update Starliner’s software to allow for an autonomous return in early September, while the next Crew Dragon launch is set for late September.
NASA’s decision to forgo using Starliner for the crew is a significant blow to Boeing’s reputation. However, the agency has already been successfully using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for manned missions to the ISS.
