NASA is facing a critical 19-day deadline to safely return astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS) due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The Starliner, which docked at the ISS on June 13, 2024, encountered unexpected problems that have delayed their return, leaving NASA with a narrow window to resolve the issues before the arrival of the Crew-9 mission.
Williams and Wilmore launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 5, 2024, marking the first manned flight for Boeing’s commercial crew program. Their mission was to test the Starliner’s capabilities, a significant milestone for Boeing.
However, as the spacecraft approached the ISS, five of its 28 thrusters unexpectedly shut down. Additionally, engineers discovered five small helium leaks in the spacecraft’s service module, preventing the Starliner from safely undocking and returning to Earth.
Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, stated that a return timeline for Williams and Wilmore has not yet been determined. The thrusters and helium systems are critical for the spacecraft’s safe re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, and any malfunction could pose significant risks to the astronauts’ safety.
Complicating the situation further is the need to manage docking ports at the ISS, as the Starliner must be undocked to accommodate the upcoming Crew-9 mission.
The Crew-9 mission, scheduled for launch no earlier than August 18, 2024, will transport NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Nick Hague, and Stephanie Wilson, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The urgency is heightened as the docking port currently occupied by the Starliner must be cleared for the new crew.
If the Starliner remains inoperative, NASA may have to consider alternative methods to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth, including potentially using a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
Williams and Wilmore have continued their mission activities aboard the ISS. They have been providing updates on their research and the status of the Starliner through space-to-Earth calls.
On July 10, 2024, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore addressed the media, sharing insights into their extended stay and the ongoing efforts to repair their spacecraft. Despite the challenges, they have remained in good spirits.
In a live press conference from space, Williams and Wilmore discussed their experience of watching an awe-inspiring transformation of a weather phenomenon. "The hurricane is quite impressive," Williams remarked, recounting how she had observed the storm's development from a system off the west coast of Africa, which later intensified into the powerful hurricane affecting the Texas coast.
"I actually took a picture of a storm off the west coast of Africa about a week and a half before the hurricane impacted, and I'm about 98% sure that it was the one that became Beryl," Williams said. "I took some video of it and sent it down," she added, highlighting the storm's rapid evolution.
Williams elaborated on the rigorous testing conducted upon reaching the ISS, emphasising their thorough preparations for potential emergencies. "We practiced safe havens and tested all emergency equipment extensively," she noted.
Addressing concerns about Starliner's performance and safety, Commander Wilmore expressed confidence in their ability to return safely. "We're absolutely confident," he affirmed, highlighting ongoing thruster testing and the team's readiness to adapt procedures based on new data.
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