Two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, are finally returning to Earth after an unexpectedly prolonged stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Their nine-month mission, which was originally planned for just eight days, faced a series of setbacks tied to Boeing’s troubled Starliner spacecraft.
Delays and Technical Problems Before Launch
The mission’s challenges started even before Williams and Wilmore departed in June 2024.
The Crew-9 mission marked the first crewed flight using Boeing’s Starliner capsule, breaking a pattern of previous missions that relied on SpaceX technology.
Boeing’s Starliner had already faced delays and issues.
The spacecraft’s first uncrewed test flight in 2019 ended in failure.
While a successful uncrewed test flight was completed in 2022, additional complications postponed the crewed mission for another two years.
Trouble in Space
When Starliner finally launched on June 5, 2024, additional problems emerged.
The spacecraft experienced thruster failures, with five out of 28 control system thrusters malfunctioning.
This problem initially prevented Starliner from docking with the ISS, though a later attempt was successful.
Further concerns arose when helium leaks were discovered, leading NASA to decide that Starliner was unsafe for the astronauts’ return journey.
In September 2024, the agency opted to send the faulty spacecraft back to Earth without a crew, prioritizing astronaut safety.
SpaceX Steps In
With Williams and Wilmore still aboard the ISS, NASA turned to SpaceX to provide a replacement craft.
A SpaceX spacecraft piloted by two astronauts was sent to the ISS in September, but Williams and Wilmore remained onboard due to a lack of personnel to replace them.
The wait continued until this month when Crew-10, carrying four new astronauts on another SpaceX Dragon capsule, finally arrived to relieve the stranded astronauts.
The replacement crew, which included NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russia’s Kirill Pesko, successfully docked with the ISS on March 16 after a 28-hour journey.
Political Controversy and Delayed Return
The delay in the astronauts’ return became a political issue, with former President Donald Trump urging SpaceX owner Elon Musk to expedite the mission.
Trump claimed that politics played a role in delaying their return, suggesting the Biden administration rejected Musk’s earlier offer to bring them home to avoid boosting Trump’s image during the election.
NASA’s Ken Bowersox acknowledged that political discussions may have influenced the timing of the return but maintained that astronaut safety was always the priority.
Boeing’s Setbacks and Future Plans
Despite the Starliner issues, Boeing recently secured a $2.56 billion contract with the U.S. Air Force to develop two prototype E-7A Wedgetail radar planes.
While unrelated to Boeing’s space technology challenges, this contract sparked concerns about accountability.
NASA’s Office of the Inspector General has since called for financial penalties against Boeing, citing the company’s failure to meet quality control standards that contributed to the Starliner debacle.’
Investigations revealed that Boeing’s engineers had discovered multiple leaks in the spacecraft’s propulsion system prior to launch.
Moving Forward
While Boeing faces ongoing scrutiny, Pentagon officials have stated that the aerospace company’s defense contracts are unlikely to be affected.
The focus now shifts to ensuring improved safety measures for future missions and addressing the technical flaws that left Williams and Wilmore stranded for months.
With their return now underway, the astronauts can finally reunite with their families after a challenging and extended stay in orbit.