Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
NASA has decided that astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who launched to the ISS aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft in June 2023, will return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February 2025 due to ongoing concerns with Starliner’s thrusters.
The decision was heavily influenced by the lessons learned from the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters, both of which were caused by overlooked technical issues that resulted in the deaths of 14 astronauts.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson highlighted that the agency's decision-making process has been shaped by a commitment to avoid repeating past mistakes, emphasizing that safety is now the top priority.
The Challenger disaster in 1986 and the Columbia disaster in 2003 were both referenced during the decision process, with NASA officials stressing the importance of addressing technical concerns thoroughly to prevent similar tragedies.
NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free noted that unresolved issues with Starliner's thrusters required further investigation, leading to the decision to use SpaceX’s Dragon for the astronauts' return.
Nelson assured that the decision to switch the return vehicle was based purely on safety considerations, dismissing any speculation that political factors were involved.
The upcoming SpaceX Crew-9 mission will be modified to accommodate the returning Starliner astronauts, with the Dragon capsule set to carry only two astronauts to the ISS next month instead of the usual four. NASA and Boeing are also working on plans to bring the uncrewed Starliner back to Earth in September 2024.