STATE & NATIONAL: Following a flight readiness review meeting held with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said, Boeing arrived at the decision to bring the Starliner crew back to Earth on board the SpaceX Falcon.
By Anne M Erbynstein
Several details involved in this decision would describe how NASA decided that the return would only be contingent upon the matter of safety. As a result, both Nelson and Boeing officials agreed to bring the crew of Boeing’s Starliner back to Earth on a SpaceX Falcon in February.
The Starliner capsule experienced multiple helium leaks and issues with its thrusters, which are critical for a safe re-entry and landing1.
Despite successful tests of the Starliner’s maneuvering thrusters, NASA concluded that there was no way to ensure the systems would continue to operate normally.
As a result, NASA decided that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been aboard the International Space Station since June, will return to Earth on a SpaceX Crew Dragon ferry ship in 2025.
This decision allows NASA and Boeing to continue gathering testing data on Starliner during its uncrewed return flight.
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