Trump’s unusual Intervention in NASA’s Starliner mission
Table of Contents
The Starliner saga has been ongoing for nearly five months, but newly inaugurated President Donald Trump has decided to try to swoop in for a last-minute rescue operation. NASA will reportedly swap one SpaceX Dragon spacecraft for another to return the two Starliner astronauts a little earlier than expected, complying with Trump’s boisterous attempt to save the crew that doesn’t need saving.
NASA is reportedly working on bringing back two astronauts from the international Space Station (ISS) on March 19, around two weeks earlier than the agency’s current plan, an anonymous source told Ars Technica. This comes shortly after President Trump announced that he had asked SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk to “go get the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Management,” he wrote on Truth Social. The effort to rush the return of the Starliner crew will not only require the reshuffling of spacecraft on the ground—it’s also certain to delay a private mission to the ISS.
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore launched to the ISS on board Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner on June 5,2024. The mission was originally slotted for eight days in space but issues with the spacecraft’s thrusters forced NASA to return an empty Starliner back from the ISS, deeming it unsafe to transport the crew to Earth. Instead, Williams and Wilmore would return on board a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
NASA launched its Crew-9 mission in September 2024 with two astronauts rather of four. The two empty seats were reserved for Williams and Wilmore, who were set to return alongside the Crew-9 crew in february, but there were more troubles ahead. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 was originally set for liftoff in February, but technical issues with the vehicle delayed its launch and the subsequent crew handover. That means Crew-9, alongside Williams and Wilmore, won’t be able to depart the ISS untill Crew-10 is on the space station, further delaying the Starliner astronauts’ return to early April.
NASA now believes the dragon capsule won’t be ready to launch to the ISS until late April, so the agency has decided to swap spacecraft, according to Ars Technica. NASA has reportedly asked SpaceX to launch the Crew-10 mission on board its Dragon C210 vehicle no earlier than March 12. This particular SpaceX vehicle, called Endurance, returned to Earth in March 2024 after completing the Crew-7 mission and is due to launch Axiom Space’s fourth private mission to the ISS in the spring. If this new plan goes into effect, the Starliner astronauts may return home on March 19 after having spent 286 days in space.
Astronauts normally spend around six months on board the ISS,with some staying in space for a little over a year. Even though the duration of their stay in space is not remarkable, the story of the Starliner astronauts has drawn worldwide media attention and even taken a political turn as trump’s inauguration. While the crew did have an ill-fated ride to space, the astronauts have not been abandoned nor are they in need of an expedited rescue mission.
Summary of Key Points
| Event | Details |
|—————————-|—————————————————————————————————-|
| Launch Date | June 5, 2024 |
| Original Mission Duration | 8 days |
| Return Date | March 19, 2025 (if new plan goes into effect) |
| total Duration in Space | 286 days |
| Spacecraft Involved | Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner, SpaceX Dragon C210 (Endurance) |
| Political Involvement | President Trump’s intervention via Truth Social |
This unprecedented political involvement in a NASA mission has sparked debate and scrutiny.While the astronauts are safe and not in immediate danger, the rush to bring them home has raised questions about the balance between political pressure and operational necessity.
for more insights into the Starliner mission and NASA’s operations, visit [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/02/nasa-moves-up-target-to-return-butch-and-suni-but-not-for-political-re
NASA’s Challenging mission: A Q&A on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX’s Dragon
NASA’s recent Crew-9 mission was marred by unexpected thrusters issues with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner, making a timely return home unachievable. Here, we delve deeper into the mission and theactions taken by NASA to ensure the safe expeditions of astronauts Williams and Wilmore.
Editor’s interview with Astronaut Mike Hopkins on NASA’s Recent Space Operation Challenges
Editor: Mike, can you tell us about your scheduled mission to the ISS on board Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner?
mike Hopkins: Our mission was originally planned for eight days in space. However, we faced issues with the spacecraft’s thrusters, which led to an unsafe condition for transportation back to earth. Consequently, NASA decided to bring an empty Starliner back from the ISS.
Editor: That certainly added to the complexity of the mission. how was the situation managed given the thrusters’ malfunction?
Mike Hopkins: The main challenge was ensuring safety, both for us and for future missions. once it was clear we couldn’t return safely via Starliner, we coordinated with NASA and turned to SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft for our return home.
Editor: How did you and your crew adapt to using a different spacecraft?
Mike Hopkins: The transition to SpaceX’s Dragon wasn’t straightforward, but NASA’s quick action and SpaceX’s support made our safe return possible.In our line of work, adaptability is crucial, so we followed the safety protocols and adapted to the new spacecraft efficiently.
Editor: What were the subsequent challenges faced during the Crew-9 mission and the Crew-10 handover?
Mike Hopkins: Despite completing the initial phase using SpaceX’s Dragon, technical issues with the vehicle delayed the Crew-10 launch and subsequent crew handover. This further delayed our return from the ISS. Crew-9, which had two empty seats for us and the other astronauts, couldn’t depart until Crew-10 was on the ISS.
Editor: How has NASA approached these technical delays?
Mike Hopkins: NASA has been proactive in addressing these setbacks. They have now re-planned to launch the Crew-10 mission using SpaceX’s Dragon C210 spacecraft, Endurance, originally slated for Axiom Space’s private mission.
Editor: What implications does this plan have on your and Wilmore’s return?
Mike Hopkins: If the new plan goes as was to be expected, we will return home on March 19, having spent 286 days in space — significantly longer than the typical six-month duration.
Editor: This extended stay in space must have brought unique challenges and experiences. What are your thoughts on the political involvement in this mission?
Mike Hopkins: While the mission had its setbacks, the political involvement brought more attention to our story. Tho we appreciate the support, ensuring safety and mission validity is paramount. The balance between political pressure and operational necessity is always crucial and something NASA will continue to navigate.
Summary of Key Points
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch Date | June 5, 2024 |
| Original Mission Duration | 8 days |
| Return Date | March 19, 2025 (if new plan goes into effect) |
| Total Duration in Space | 286 days |
| Spacecraft Involved | Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner, SpaceX Dragon C210 (Endurance) |
| Political Involvement | President Trump’s intervention via Truth Social |
This unprecedented political involvement in a NASA mission has sparked debate and scrutiny.While the astronauts are safe and not in immediate danger, the rush to bring them home has raised questions about the balance between political pressure and operational necessity.
For more insights into the Starliner mission and NASA’s operations, visit Ars Technica.
