Astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore are now scheduled to return to Earth next February, according to NASA, as reported by Reuters on Saturday. Their return, originally planned for an earlier date, has been postponed due to ongoing thruster issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
NASA has determined that the propulsion system problems present too significant a risk, prompting the decision for Williams and Wilmore, who traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) in June aboard the Starliner, to return instead on a SpaceX vehicle early next year.
Boeing’s Starliner, designed to serve as an alternative to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, has faced numerous challenges in its development. The capsule failed an uncrewed test launch to the ISS in 2019, and while a 2022 reattempt was largely successful, it still encountered thruster problems. The June mission, carrying its first crew, was critical for Starliner’s certification for routine flights, but these recent setbacks have complicated that process.
Since Starliner’s docking at the ISS in June, Boeing has been working to identify the cause of the thruster malfunctions and helium leaks. The company has conducted tests and simulations on Earth to provide data to NASA, hoping to demonstrate that the spacecraft is safe for crewed missions.
NASA’s decision to delay the return of Williams and Wilmore and the uncertain future of Starliner’s certification add to the challenges facing Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, who took over this month with the task of restoring the company’s reputation, already strained by a series of high-profile issues, including a recent incident involving a 737 MAX passenger jet.
