August 25th 2024.
NASA has announced that astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who flew to the International Space Station in June on the faulty Starliner capsule, will be returning to Earth early next year. The space agency has decided to bring the Starliner back without the two astronauts on board, in order to continue gathering testing data and minimize risk for the crew.
According to a post on X, NASA explained that after careful review by experts, the decision was made to bring back the uncrewed Starliner while astronauts Wilmore and Williams remain on the space station. The two have been busy conducting research, performing maintenance, and testing and analyzing data from the Starliner system.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of safety in all space missions, especially in a test flight like this one. He expressed his gratitude to the NASA and Boeing teams for their thorough work and attention to detail. Wilmore and Williams will continue their work as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew until February 2025, and will then return to Earth on a Dragon spacecraft with two other crew members.
The Starliner is expected to depart from the space station and make a safe landing in early September, after facing some challenges during its approach to the station in June. NASA and Boeing have been working diligently to address these issues, conducting tests and reviews and developing contingency plans. Ultimately, the decision was made to bring back the Starliner uncrewed, as the uncertainty and lack of expert concurrence did not meet the agency's safety and performance standards for human spaceflight.
In conclusion, while the Starliner's journey has faced some setbacks, NASA and Boeing remain committed to ensuring the safety and success of all space missions. The return of the Starliner and the continuation of Wilmore and Williams' work on the space station are important steps in this ongoing endeavor.
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