NASA acknowledged “tension” during discussions with Boeing over how to bring home two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS), though it denied reports of heated arguments. The tension arose as NASA opted to enlist SpaceX for the rescue due to safety concerns with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which suffered thruster malfunctions and helium leaks during its mission to the ISS.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who launched in June for what was originally a weeklong mission, are now expected to remain on the ISS until February 2025, returning with SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission. Boeing had publicly expressed confidence in its spacecraft, but the absence of its executives from recent NASA briefings led to speculation about a rift between the two organizations.
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Reports from the New York Post suggested that meetings between NASA and Boeing were marked by arguments and raised voices. However, Steve Stich, program manager for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, clarified that while the discussions were tense, they did not devolve into shouting matches.
“Anytime you’re in a meeting of this magnitude where there’s this kind of decision, there is some tension,” said Stich. He explained that Boeing believed in its model for predicting thruster degradation, but NASA was not comfortable with the uncertainty in the data.
“It was a tense technical discussion where both sides listened intently to all the data,” Stich added.
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Astronauts in Good Spirits Despite Extended Stay
Despite the unexpected extension of their mission, Wilmore and Williams remain in good spirits and are in regular contact with their families. A recent resupply mission delivered better-fitting suits to the astronauts, improving their comfort after initially relying on borrowed clothes.
Starliner’s Departure from ISS Imminent
Boeing’s Starliner capsule is scheduled to depart the ISS on Friday evening, US Eastern Time, with a parachute and airbag-assisted landing planned in the western United States early Saturday. After undocking, the spacecraft will perform a “breakout burn” using its thrusters to ensure it safely clears the station before continuing its return to Earth.
Had the flight been crewed, Starliner would have flown closer to the ISS to capture exterior views, but NASA deemed the risk of collision too high without astronauts onboard to manually pilot the capsule if necessary.
Key Points:
NASA-Boeing Tension: NASA admitted there was “tension” during discussions with Boeing over the astronaut rescue plan but denied reports of shouting matches.
Safety Concerns: NASA opted to use SpaceX for the rescue due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks.
Extended Mission: Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, originally on a weeklong mission, are now expected to return in February 2025 with the SpaceX Crew-9 mission.
Boeing’s Confidence: Boeing remained confident in its spacecraft, but the absence of its executives at NASA briefings fueled speculation of a rift.
Astronauts in Good Spirits: The astronauts remain in good spirits, receiving better-fitting suits during a recent resupply mission.
Starliner Departure: Starliner is set to depart the ISS on Friday, with a parachute-assisted landing in the western US on Saturday.
Risk Mitigation: NASA decided against having the capsule fly closer to the ISS due to collision risks without astronauts onboard to manually pilot the spacecraft.
