New Delhi: NASA announced on Saturday that Boeings Starliner capsule will return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) without its planned crew, due to ongoing propulsion system issues. The decision comes as a significant setback for Boeing, which is now facing estimated losses exceeding $1 billion in its Starliner program, according to CNBC.Initially scheduled to return on the Starliner, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will now complete their journey back to Earth aboard Elon Musks SpaceX Crew-9 vehicle in February 2025, following an extended six-month stay on the ISS. The crews return was initially planned as part of a nine-day test flight, but recurring issues with Starliners thrusters forced a change in plans.Technical disagreement leads to shiftThe decision to switch the astronauts return to SpaceX stemmed from a technical disagreement between NASA and Boeing, with NASA prioritizing safety concerns. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of understanding the root causes of the technical failures before proceeding with any crewed missions on the Starliner. “Boeing has worked diligently with NASA to gather the necessary data to make this decision, Nelson stated. He further highlighted that test flights like the Starliner mission are neither safe nor routine, underlining the importance of ensuring the spacecrafts reliability.NASAs flight readiness reviewIn light of the decision, NASA will conduct an additional phase of its Flight Readiness Review to determine the best time to bring the empty Starliner capsule back to Earth. Despite Boeings reassurances that the Starliner was safe for an emergency crew return, NASA opted for caution, choosing to delay the crewed return until further issues were resolved.Commitment to future missionsNASA remains optimistic about the future of the Starliner program. Nelson expressed confidence in Boeings ability to address the current challenges, stating he was 100% certain that the Starliner would eventually carry astronauts again. Boeing also reiterated its commitment to safety, promising to execute the mission as determined by NASA and prepare for a secure uncrewed return.In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Boeing affirmed, We continue to focus, first and foremost, on the safety of the crew and spacecraft. We are executing the mission as determined by NASA and are preparing the spacecraft for a safe and successful uncrewed return.SpaceX steps in for return missionNASA officials, including Ken Bowersox, the agencys associate administrator, were unanimous in their decision to rely on SpaceX for the astronauts return. SpaceXs Crew-9 vehicle will now carry two astronauts, instead of the originally planned four, to accommodate Wilmore and Williams.Boeings Starliner capsule, dubbed Calypso, has been docked at the ISS since June, with its mission extended indefinitely due to persistent thruster issues. What was meant to be a milestone in Boeings crew flight test has now turned into a major challenge for the aerospace giant.
