NASA administrator Bill Nelson announced today that US astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore will return next February with the SpaceX Crew-9 mission after spending more than 80 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). According to NASA Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich, the decision to return the astronauts via Crew-9 was made after a series of challenges faced during the mission.
As more data was collected over the summer, the uncertainty of the prediction of the thrusters became a critical issue. Steve Stich mentioned that there was too much risk involved in predicting the thrusters’ performance accurately. This uncertainty led NASA to opt for an uncrewed return flight for the Starliner spacecraft, rather than risking the safety of the astronauts on board.
In response to questions about how NASA can trust Boeing again, NASA Associate Administrator Ken Bowersox highlighted the importance of healthy discourse and emotional investment in decision-making processes. Despite the challenges faced, Bowersox emphasized NASA’s commitment to working with Boeing in the future to address the issues that arose during the mission.
Steve Stich weighed in on the situation, mentioning that there was a disagreement in terms of the level of risk involved. He highlighted the importance of evaluating risks differently when it comes to crew safety and spacecraft performance. Stich emphasized the need for a thorough risk assessment to ensure the safety of astronauts during space missions.
The Starliner spacecraft faced several challenges, including thruster failures, helium leaks, and valve issues while docking with the ISS. These issues led to delays and raised concerns about the spacecraft’s overall performance. Tests conducted at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility indicated that deformed Teflon seals might have been one of the reasons for the thruster failures.
With limited access to the spacecraft docked at the ISS, NASA had to carefully consider the options for returning the astronauts safely to Earth. The decision to bring the astronauts back with the SpaceX Crew-9 mission in February was based on the assessment of risks and uncertainties associated with the Starliner spacecraft.
NASA’s decision to return astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore with the SpaceX Crew-9 mission reflects the challenges and uncertainties faced during the mission. By prioritizing crew safety and conducting thorough risk assessments, NASA aims to ensure the successful return of astronauts from space missions in the future.
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