WASHINGTON – NASA said Thursday that they hope to announce on Saturday whether the two astronauts will board the Starliner spacecraft Boeing A problem with the International Space Station requires a SpaceX probe to return to Earth.
“Conclusion NASA on whether to return Starliner to Earth with astronauts on board no earlier than Saturday, August 24 at the end of the agency-level review,” the space agency said in a statement.
Starliner launched its first two astronauts into space in June as a crucial test before it was approved. NASA for regular flights. However, what was supposed to be an eight-day mission to dock with the ISS was delayed for months after the capsule exploded and some of its boosters failed.
Administrator NASA Bill Nelson will attend the group-level review, the statement said. Boeing for months have been trying to calm concerns NASA about Starliner’s problems with new test data that the company says proves the spacecraft’s safety for astronauts.
NASA weighing that data against his low appetite for risk on the mission, one of four Starliner flights since 2019 that crashed.
The agency has prepared a backup plan to provide two seats on the upcoming SpaceX Crew Dragon mission that can be used by the Starliner crew – former astronauts NASA Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.
If so NASA fulfilling SpaceX’s backup plan, Wilmore and Williams will not return home until the mission ends in February 2025, and the Starliner will attempt to return to an empty Earth.
If so NASA determine that Starliner is safe for the astronauts, the capsule will fly them home sooner, possibly within the next month to free up the ISS docking port for SpaceX missions.
Decision NASA what is coming will be a difficult time for him Boeingwhich has struggled to develop the Starliner and compete with SpaceX’s similar but more experienced Crew Dragon. Boeing took a $1.6 billion loss on its Starliner program, according to securities filings.
2024-08-23 20:03:00
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