Produced by: Tarun Mishra
NASA is scheduled to give a crucial update on the Boeing Starliner mission today, determining the next steps for astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 6.
The agency will host a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EDT (10:30 p.m. IST) to discuss the challenges faced by the Starliner spacecraft and potential strategies for safely returning the astronauts to Earth.
The Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission, launched on June 5, marked Boeing’s first attempt to use its Starliner capsule to transport astronauts as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, aimed at expanding access to low Earth orbit.
Despite a successful launch, the Starliner encountered significant technical problems after docking with the ISS, including thruster anomalies and helium leaks, which have delayed the astronauts' return to Earth.
NASA's mission managers are currently assessing the Starliner's readiness, with a decision expected today. While the primary goal is to bring the astronauts back on the Starliner, NASA is also considering alternative options.
One alternative involves using SpaceX’s upcoming Crew 9 mission, scheduled for September 25, 2024. This plan could bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth in early 2025 by modifying the Crew 9 Dragon spacecraft to accommodate them.
The focus remains on addressing the Starliner’s technical issues to enable a safe return using the original spacecraft. This might include reconfiguring the Starliner’s software or even an uncrewed undocking to facilitate repairs.
The media teleconference will be streamed live on NASA’s website. The outcome of this briefing is expected to clarify the future steps for the mission and the safe return of the astronauts.