Two NASA astronauts who have been stranded in space since early June finally have their flight home booked: They will return to Earth on SpaceX’s Dragon capsule in February. The decision represents a vote of confidence in Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which not only won the race to ferry astronauts with a yearslong lead but is now being trusted to finish a job Boeing started. The two spacefarers, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, embarked on their mission on June 5 on a journey that was never guaranteed to be smooth sailing. They were the first passengers to ever fly aboard the Starliner vehicle, built by veteran contractor Boeing. Now, their mission will be more complicated than originally planned—and months longer than anyone expected.
“Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson during a news conference the agency held Saturday. “A test flight, by nature, is neither safe nor routine.”
Wilmore and Williams faced several delays ahead of their launch earlier this summer. When they finally blasted off, they reached the International Space Station safely. However, the flight included several small anomalies, particularly helium leaks and thruster failures in the vehicle’s propulsion system. Since the two arrived in orbit, NASA and Boeing have been intensively troubleshooting their vehicle, a capsule nicknamed Calypso.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of safety in space missions, especially considering the risks involved. The decision to have the astronauts return on the SpaceX Dragon capsule showcases NASA’s high level of confidence in the vehicle, despite the setbacks faced by Boeing’s Starliner.
### Challenges Faced by Boeing
Boeing, a veteran contractor in the aerospace industry, has had its fair share of challenges in the development of the Starliner vehicle. In 2014, NASA selected both Boeing and SpaceX to develop vehicles capable of ferrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station. The contracts were meant to see astronauts launching by 2017—a timeline neither company was able to meet.
While SpaceX successfully carried out a crewed test mission in 2020 and has completed multiple crew missions for NASA, Boeing faced setbacks with the Starliner vehicle. The spacecraft encountered issues with fuel consumption, thruster failures, and faulty valves, leading to delays in its development and testing.
The recent decision by NASA to have the astronauts return on the SpaceX Dragon capsule instead of the Starliner represents a significant setback for Boeing, both in terms of its reputation and financial standing. Despite the challenges faced by Boeing, the company remains committed to making Starliner a regular working visitor to the space station.
### Confidence in SpaceX Dragon
NASA’s decision to entrust the return of the astronauts to the SpaceX Dragon capsule highlights the agency’s confidence in SpaceX’s capabilities. In addition to providing access to the International Space Station, SpaceX has been entrusted with launching high-profile science missions and landing astronauts on the lunar surface.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule has proven its reliability through successful missions for NASA, and the agency sees it as a dependable option for transporting astronauts to and from space. The decision to rely on SpaceX for the return journey of the astronauts underscores the importance of having multiple reliable options for crewed missions to ensure the safety of astronauts in space.
### Future Plans for Space Missions
As the astronauts prepare to return to Earth on the SpaceX Dragon capsule, NASA and Boeing are focused on addressing the challenges faced by the Starliner vehicle. The path forward for Starliner’s future missions will depend on evaluations by NASA and Boeing engineers, as well as potential changes to the vehicle’s systems.
While the return of the astronauts on the SpaceX Dragon capsule marks a significant moment in space exploration, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and success of future crewed missions. NASA’s commitment to space exploration and collaboration with commercial partners like SpaceX and Boeing will continue to shape the future of human spaceflight.
In conclusion, the journey of the NASA astronauts stranded in space highlights the complexities and challenges of space exploration. The decision to have the astronauts return on the SpaceX Dragon capsule underscores the importance of safety and reliability in crewed missions. As NASA and its commercial partners navigate the path forward, the focus remains on advancing space exploration and ensuring the success of future missions.
