MIAMI, Florida, USA— This Friday, the NASA reported that the Boeing Starliner capsulewhich presented technical failureswill depart from the International Space Station (EEI) next Friday, September 6 without its two crew memberswho will remain in the orbital laboratory until next February, when they will return to Earth in a SpaceX capsule.
NASA also reported that SpaceX’s next manned mission, the Crew 9will carry only two crew members to the ISS (not the four planned), who will return in February together with the two Starliner astronauts who were forced to extend their stay from about ten days to nearly eight months due to technical problems.
According to NASA, Starliner will separate from the ISS at 18:04 EST (22:04 GMT) next Friday and will begin an unmanned autonomous return that will end six hours later, when it lands in New Mexico with the help of a parachute system.
The return of the capsule occurs after NASA’s decision to keep the ISS until February 2025. Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore y Sunita ‘Suni’ Williamsthe two astronauts on the first manned Starliner mission, were suspended for safety reasons after the capsule experienced technical failures.
Both took off from Florida aboard the Starliner on June 5 and then successfully docked with the orbital laboratory. The mission was scheduled to return in the middle of that month, but failures in some of the thrusters and the discovery of small helium leaks postponed their return indefinitely.
The launch of Crew 9 from the Kennedy Space Center is scheduled for September 24, NASA said today.
The six-month mission, which will mark SpaceX’s ninth crew rotation on the ISS for NASA, will not launch with the originally planned four-member crew but instead with only NASA astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
Hague and Gorbunov will serve as commander and pilot, respectively, while NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, previously announced as crewmates, will be reassigned to a future mission and their two seats will be filled by Williams and Wilmore.
“I am deeply proud of our entire team and am confident that Nick and Alex will assume their roles with excellence. All four of us remain dedicated to the success of this mission, and Stephanie and I look forward to flying when the time is right,” Cardman said in a NASA statement.
“I know Nick and Alex will do a great job aboard the International Space Station,” Wilson said.
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2024-09-11 15:53:29
Boeing Starliner: NASA’s Decision to Bring the Spacecraft Back to Earth Without Astronauts
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was launched on June 5 with astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams on board, will depart from the International Space Station (ISS) without its two crew members, NASA announced recently [[2]]. The decision comes after the spacecraft experienced technical failures, including thruster issues and small helium leaks, which postponed its return indefinitely.
According to NASA, the Starliner will separate from the ISS on September 6 and begin an unmanned autonomous return, landing in New Mexico six hours later with the help of a parachute system [[1]]. The return of the capsule occurs after NASA’s decision to keep the ISS until February 2025.
Design and Capacity of the Starliner
The Starliner was designed to accommodate seven passengers, or a mix of crew and cargo, for missions to low-Earth orbit [[3]]. The spacecraft is capable of carrying both crew and cargo to the ISS, providing a vital service to the orbital laboratory.
Crew 9 Mission and Reshuffle
NASA also announced that SpaceX’s next manned mission, Crew 9, will carry only two crew members to the ISS, instead of the originally planned four. The mission, scheduled to launch on September 24 from the Kennedy Space Center, will be manned by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The two astronauts will serve as commander and pilot, respectively.
The reshuffle was necessary due to the technical issues with the Starliner, which forced Wilmore and Williams to extend their stay on the ISS from ten days to nearly eight months. Hague and Gorbunov will return to Earth in February 2025, along with Wilmore and Williams, who will complete their mission on a SpaceX capsule.
NASA’s Contingency Planning
NASA’s decision to bring the Starliner back to Earth without its crew members highlights the agency’s commitment to safety and contingency planning. The agency’s ability to adapt to unexpected situations and ensure the safety of its astronauts is crucial to the success of its missions.
the Boeing Starliner’s return to Earth without its crew members is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the astronauts on board. NASA’s decision to reshuffle the Crew 9 mission and reassign astronauts to future missions demonstrates the agency’s flexibility and commitment to the success of its programs.
– What were the reasons for NASA’s decision to return the Boeing Starliner spacecraft to Earth without crew members?
NASA’s Boeing Starliner Spacecraft to Return to Earth Without Crew
In a recent announcement, NASA confirmed that the Boeing Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth without crew members Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams on board [[1]]. The spacecraft, which has experienced technical failures, will depart from the International Space Station (ISS) on September 6, and will begin an unmanned autonomous return journey that will end six hours later when it lands in New Mexico with the help of a parachute system.
Technical Issues and Delayed Return
The Starliner spacecraft was launched on June 5, carrying Wilmore and Williams on the first manned mission to the ISS. However, due to technical failures, including issues with the spacecraft’s thrusters and small helium leaks, their return was postponed indefinitely [[1]]. As a result, their stay on the ISS has been extended from ten days to nearly eight months.
Crew 9 Mission and Reassignments
NASA also announced that SpaceX’s next manned mission, Crew 9, will carry only two crew members to the ISS, instead of the originally planned four [[1]]. The mission, scheduled to launch on September 24, will see NASA astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov serving as commander and pilot, respectively. The two seats originally assigned to NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson will be filled by Williams and Wilmore, who will return to Earth on the SpaceX capsule in February.
NASA’s Decision to Keep ISS Until 2025
The return of the Starliner spacecraft comes after NASA’s decision to extend the operation of the ISS until February 2025. The agency has set coverage for the Starliner news conference, which will provide live coverage of the spacecraft’s departure from the ISS and return to Earth [[3]].
Design and Capacity of the Starliner
The Boeing Starliner is designed to accommodate seven passengers, or a mix of crew and cargo, for missions to low-Earth orbit [[2]]. The spacecraft is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which aims to provide safe and reliable transportation to and from the ISS.
NASA’s decision to return the Starliner spacecraft to Earth without crew members Wilmore and Williams is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the astronauts. The agency’s commitment to the Commercial Crew Program and the extension of the ISS operation until 2025 demonstrate its dedication to advancing space exploration and scientific research.
