Janice R. Andrews
NASA’s Starliner ship will finally return to Earth on September 6, after being docked at the International Space Station (ISS) for 12 weeks. On the much-anticipated return trip, however, the two scientists who were on the first trip will not be there. Concerns about the safety of the spaceship have led NASA to decide that Starliner will go back without a crew.
Return Journey Without Crew
Starliner is set to separate from the ISS at 6 p.m. ET and will spend the next six hours making its way back to Earth. SpaceX is set to land at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico around midnight. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who got to the space station on June 5 on the Starliner, will stay there and then take a different ship back to Earth.
NASA chose to send Starliner back without a crew because they found problems with its propulsion system and were worried about gas leaks. “The uncrewed Starliner spacecraft will perform a fully autonomous return with flight controllers at Starliner Mission Control in Houston and at Boeing Mission Control Center in Florida,” NASA said in a report. “If needed, teams on the ground can remotely guide the spacecraft through the steps needed for a safe undocking, re-entry, and parachute-assisted landing in the southwest United States.”
What this means for Boeing’s Starliner Program
The result of this return flight without crew is very important for Boeing’s Starliner program. If the spaceship has any problems on its way back or doesn’t meet NASA’s strict safety requirements for human spaceflight approval, it could be very bad for Boeing. The company has already put a lot of money into the Starliner program, but it has lost about $1.5 billion so far.
Boeing could lose even more money if they can’t get the Starliner certified for human launch. The company would have to do the test flight again and make any changes that are needed, which could cost millions more. Ken Bowersox, Associate Administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, said he was disappointed that the test flight with the crew could not be finished, but he stressed that this sadness should not affect one’s judgment. “All of us really wanted to complete the Boeing Starliner test flight with crew, and I think unanimously we’re disappointed not to be able to do that,” Bowersox said. “But you don’t want that disappointment to weigh unhealthily in your decision.”
Looking Ahead: How Human Spaceflight Certification Will Change in the Future
Even if Starliner’s unmanned return works, NASA will have to make a hard choice about whether to approve the ship for human travel. If the Starliner gets certified, it will be able to make regular trips to and from orbit. This is a big step forward for Boeing’s space goals. Right now, though, things don’t look good for this chance.
In the weeks leading up to this choice, Boeing has kept saying that it is sure Starliner is safe. On August 24, the company said that its main goal is still to make sure the safety of both the crew and the ship. “We are executing the mission as determined by NASA, and we are preparing the spacecraft for a safe and successful uncrewed return,” Boeing said.
How Long Will the Astronauts Stay in Space?
The original plan was for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to come back on the Starliner. Now they will have to wait for a SpaceX Crew Dragon ship to bring them back to Earth. It won’t be until February before they come back. Crew Dragon has been approved for human missions for about four years and has already made about a dozen trips to orbit with people on board.
NASA and Boeing will keep a close eye on Starliner as it makes its way back to Earth. The mission’s success is very important for Boeing’s future in human spaceflight and will be a key test of the company’s safety record.
