Boeing Starliner to return to Earth without Sunita and Butch Willmore
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New York: The Boeing Starliner, which launched NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore on the International Space Station (ISS), will return without any human space travellers on September 6, according to reports.
After several delays during its development, the Starliner ferried two astronauts to ISS on June 5 for an initial eight-day mission but it got extended following propulsion issues on the spacecraft.
As their stay continues, NASA announced on August 24 the astronauts would return in February 2025.
It is reported that the NASA has confirmed that the decision to bring the spacecraft was ‘unanimous’ on its part which was taken at a "tense" meeting between the space agency and Boeing officials.
The Boeing Starliner, touted as a space capsule made by astronauts for astronauts, has faced issues and the company still exudes confidence in the spacecraft.
Boeing in a statement earlier said that the company ‘continue to support NASA's requests for additional testing, data, analysis and reviews to affirm the spacecraft's safe undocking and landing capabilities’.
Claiming that Starliner’s helium levels remain stable, the company said the data also supports ‘flight rationale’ for the spacecraft and the crew’s return to Earth.
However, NASA was not ready to take risk considering the accidents of the Challenger and Columbia space shuttles in the past.
NASA in a statement pointed out that ‘uncertainty’ and ‘lack of expert concurrence’ as not meeting its safety and performance standards set for a human spaceflight.