NASA is evaluating using SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft to bring two astronauts back from the International Space Station (ISS) due to technical problems with Boeing's Starliner capsule.
The Starliner spacecraft has faced thruster failures, helium leaks, and other issues after its June 2024 crewed launch, leading to a prolonged stay at the ISS for the test pilots.
NASA has a contingency plan to use SpaceX's Crew-9 mission to retrieve astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams if Boeing's Starliner is deemed unsafe for their return trip.
The launch of SpaceX's Crew-9 flight, originally scheduled for August 18, has been postponed to no earlier than September 24 due to the Starliner situation and the need for a vacant docking port at the ISS.
Boeing was contracted by NASA in 2014 to develop Starliner alongside SpaceX, but NASA officials have raised concerns about the safety of the Starliner capsule, leading to split opinions within the agency.
Ground tests at NASA's White Sands Test Facility have replicated the thruster issues on Starliner, potentially linked to deformed Teflon seals. Engineers are also dealing with helium leaks in the propulsion system.
NASA is expected to decide by mid-August whether Wilmore and Williams will use the Starliner or SpaceX's Crew Dragon for their return trip.
If SpaceX ends up transporting the astronauts back to Earth, it would mark another setback for Boeing's troubled Starliner program, which has faced significant delays and cost overruns.
NASA has downplayed the Starliner issues, but some reports suggest the problems may be more serious than initially thought, potentially leaving the astronauts stranded in orbit until winter, though NASA and Boeing deny this.
Boeing faces additional costs related to the Starliner program, which has been troublesome, and the decision on how to proceed has not been finalized by NASA.
Boeing has suffered an additional $125 million in losses due to Starliner delay and testing costs but remains confident in the spacecraft's ability to return safely with crew.
NASA officials state that using the Starliner remains their preferred option, with SpaceX's Crew-9 as the backup plan. If needed, Boeing would reconfigure the Starliner to return empty before the launch of SpaceX's Crew-9 in September.
Boeing maintains its confidence in Starliner's capabilities despite the concerns raised by NASA, and the company plans to modify the capsule's software if needed.
NASA officials stress the importance of having multiple options for astronaut transport to and from the space station, emphasizing the need for a backup taxi service.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: PBS, FT, Fast Company, SudOuest, Boston Globe, Axios, NYTimes, The Guardian, Newsweek, USA Today, Futurism, Live Science, ABC News, SCMP, Gizmodo, El País, Engadget, Esmael Morais, cnbeta.