After a tumultuous journey filled with delays and setbacks, Boeing’s new astronaut capsule has departed the International Space Station bound for Earth without its crew on board. NASA’s two test pilots, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, will remain at the ISS until next year. The original eight-day mission has been extended to more than eight months due to thruster failures and helium leaks on the way to the space station.
SpaceX will bring Williams and Wilmore back in late February instead of Boeing returning them in June as originally planned. Boeing’s first astronaut flight faced multiple challenges, with the repair bill exceeding $1 billion due to numerous flaws uncovered during testing.
The decision to leave Williams and Wilmore behind was made by NASA, citing safety concerns after multiple thruster failures and helium leaks on the Starliner. Despite Boeing’s efforts to conduct tests on the spacecraft’s propulsion system, NASA opted for SpaceX to bring the astronauts back to Earth.
During Starliner’s departure from the space station, its thrusters were seen firing successfully, prompting NASA to call it a “perfect” departure. The capsule’s thrusters will undergo further testing to ensure a safe re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
While the focus remains on the safe return of Williams and Wilmore, NASA’s commercial crew program manager Steve Stich stated the agency’s commitment to having two competing US companies transporting astronauts in the future. The journey of Boeing’s astronaut capsule highlights the challenges and complexities of space travel, with safety remaining a top priority for all involved.
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