spacecraft. The empty return of the spacecraft gives NASA and Boeing the opportunity to continue the process of collecting information and data without putting its crew at any kind of unnecessary risk.
The two astronauts, Wilmore and Williams started their mission on the spacecraft in June, on NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, and had ever since researched, kept the maintenance, and collected data for the future return home.
Bill Nelson, NASA’s administrator reported that “Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine. A test flight, by nature, is neither safe nor routine. The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring Boeing’s Starliner home uncrewed is the result of our commitment to safety: our core value and our North Star,” and that “I’m grateful to both the NASA and Boeing teams for all their incredible and detailed work.”.
Wilmore and Williams's return home will take place with the help of SpaceX Dragon spacecraft alongside two other crew members, who will ensure a safe return home. Bill Nelson also stated that “We have had mistakes done in the past: We lost two space shuttles as a result of there not being a culture in which information could come forward”. Stalin is expected to take off from the space station and return safely in a controlled re-entry landing in early September.
Since June 6th, when helium leaks were detected on the Starliner spacecraft, engineers have been working toward a safe plan to return home for the two astronauts. NASA has been collecting data, analyzing possible plans, and making sure the safety of their astronauts is put first.
Ken Bowersox, one of NASA’s associates said in an interview “Decisions like this are never easy, but I want to commend our NASA and Boeing teams for their thorough analysis, transparent discussions, and focus on safety during the Crew Flight Test,” and that “We’ve learned a lot about the spacecraft during its journey to the station and its docked operations. We also will continue to gather more data about Starliner during the uncrewed return and improve the system for future flights to the space station.”.
Currently, NASA and SpaceX are working alongside to create the best plan for a safe return home. The space companies will facilitate a Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Carnaval Space Force Station in Florida for the launch of Crew-9.
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