When will Sunita Williams return? NASA may reveal it tomorrow
NASA is preparing for a significant safety decision regarding the return of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station (ISS). The agency's top officials, including Administrator Bill Nelson, will convene in Houston tomorrow to determine if the spacecraft is safe enough to transport astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams back to Earth. This meeting, known as the Flight Readiness Review (FRR), could result in one of NASA's most critical safety decisions in decades.
Starliner's technical issues and extended astronaut stay
Wilmore and Williams have been aboard the ISS for 77 days, significantly longer than their initially planned 8-day stay. Their journey to the station marked the first human launch and docking using a Boeing Starliner spacecraft. However, technical issues arose when multiple thrusters failed and helium leaked from the propulsion system as it neared docking completion on June 6. These complications have prompted extensive testing, data analysis, and modeling to identify the root cause of the problems.
Uncertainty over thruster performance during return journey
Engineers suspect that overheating caused the thrusters' Teflon seals to bulge and block propellant flow to the small control jets, resulting in loss of thrust. The thrusters' condition improved after docking at the station, but there is uncertainty about whether this issue could recur or worsen during Starliner's return trip. If too many thrusters fail, it could prevent the spacecraft from executing a critical braking burn needed for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.
Potential implications of extended astronaut stay
If NASA deems the risk too high, Wilmore and Williams may have to remain on the ISS until at least February next year. They would then return to Earth in a Dragon spacecraft provided by SpaceX, Boeing's competitor in NASA's commercial crew program. This decision could disrupt station activities by displacing two astronauts from an upcoming SpaceX flight and expose Wilmore and Williams to additional radiation during their extended time in space.
Impact on Boeing's Starliner program and contract
An extended stay could also deal a significant blow to Boeing's Starliner program. If the capsule cannot return with its crew, NASA may not certify Starliner for operational crew missions without an additional test flight. This could potentially prevent Boeing from completing all six of its planned operational crew missions under a $4.2 billion NASA contract before the ISS is due for retirement in 2030.
NASA's decision-making process and upcoming press conference
The FRR at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston will begin on Saturday morning, chaired by Ken Bowersox, a former astronaut and head of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate. If there is no unanimous agreement at the FRR, a final decision could be escalated to NASA's associate administrator, Jim Free or Nelson himself. NASA has scheduled a press conference for no earlier than 1:00pm ET (10:30pm IST) on Saturday to announce the agency's decision and next steps.
