the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, on August 21, NASA announced a significant shift in its plans for the return of astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS). Due to ongoing concerns over Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, the space agency has decided to extend the stay of the two crew members currently aboard and bring them home using a SpaceX Dragon capsule instead.
The decision came after Starliner, which is undergoing its first crewed flight after several years of delays, experienced technical difficulties. During its approach to the ISS in June, five of the spacecraft’s 28 maneuvering thrusters malfunctioned, leading to overheating issues. Engineers found that this overheating caused Teflon seals in the oxidizer lines to swell, potentially reducing the thrusters’ performance and creating uncertainty about their reliability for re-entry.
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s Associate Administrator for Space Operations, expressed the board’s disappointment in not being able to complete the test flight with crew as initially planned. “All of us really wanted to complete the test flight with crew, and I think unanimously we’re disappointed not to be able to do that,” Bowersox said.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized that safety was the primary concern in this decision, reflecting lessons learned from past space shuttle disasters. “Our core value is safety, and it is our North Star,” Nelson stated.
The contingency plan involves extending the stay of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who were scheduled to return on Starliner. Instead, they will join a reduced crew on the next SpaceX Dragon mission, set to launch no earlier than September 24. This Dragon will be reconfigured to accommodate Wilmore and Williams, and an extra SpaceX spacesuit will be sent up to ensure they have the necessary equipment.
Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, noted that the debate over whether to extend the astronauts’ stay or resolve the Starliner issues was thorough. Despite differing opinions, the final decision favored the SpaceX option due to the associated risks.
NASA will conduct a rehearsal for Starliner’s uncrewed undocking from the ISS in early September, with a planned return to White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. Meanwhile, Wilmore and Williams will continue their valuable work on the ISS, including potential spacewalks and contributing to ongoing experiments.
Boeing’s Starliner will undergo further testing and adjustments to address the thruster problems before it is cleared for future crewed missions. NASA and Boeing will evaluate the spacecraft’s performance and determine whether additional test flights or redesigns are necessary.
Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, expressed support for NASA’s decision and called for ongoing updates on the program’s progress. “Continuing American leadership in space is so important for our national security and scientific information,” Cantwell said.
As the situation unfolds, NASA remains committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of its spacecraft, with a clear focus on successful future missions.
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We don’t belong up there.
NASA, a government organization run by a failed politician with ZERO administrative experience.