Due to ongoing technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, NASA is considering SpaceX’s Crew Dragon shuttle as a backup plan to bring back two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS).
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were originally on an eight-day mission, have been on the ISS for almost two months. With the problems with Starliner yet to be resolved, NASA may rely on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon to ensure the astronauts’ safe return to Earth.
Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, indicated that while the primary goal remains to return the astronauts via Starliner, using Crew Dragon is becoming more likely. There is already a Crew Dragon capsule docked at the ISS, and another is scheduled to launch next month. This makes the Crew Dragon a viable alternative if Starliner’s issues cannot be resolved soon.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Considered for Astronauts’ Return Amid Starliner DelaysStarliner faced two main problems during its mission to the ISS: helium leaks and the unexpected shutdown of five reaction control thrusters. Although four of the thrusters recovered, one remains unusable. NASA continues to test and investigate these issues at its White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, suspecting that heat build-up caused Teflon seals to deform, restricting propellant flow.
The deformed seals are being closely monitored because they could fail during the return journey. Additionally, manual maneuvering during the launch put extra stress on the thrusters. Ongoing testing aims to ensure the spacecraft can safely return the astronauts. Despite the urgency, Stich emphasized that NASA has not set a return date yet but is making progress.
NASA and Boeing plan to conduct a test fire of Starliner next week, which should clarify the timeline for the spacecraft’s undocking. While NASA is not in a hurry to bring the astronauts home, having initially rated Starliner’s batteries for 45 days and extending this to 90 days, they must resolve the technical issues soon to ensure a safe return.