(DailyVantage.com) – NASA said last week that the two stranded astronauts aboard the International Space Station could return to Earth on an upcoming Crew Dragon mission scheduled for February.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who arrived at the ISS on the first Boeing Starliner launch in early June, have remained stranded due to uncertainty over the Starliner capsule’s safety.
NASA officials said on August 7 that the agency was discussing plans with SpaceX to keep two seats available aboard the February Crew Dragon flight so Wilmore and Williams could make the return trip home.
The June test mission, which was expected to last only eight days, has been extended due to issues with the Starliner propulsion system.
Starliner experienced thruster failures during its initial approach to the space station due to multiple helium leaks. Boeing began testing to determine the cause and possible fixes it could present to NASA, which would have the final say.
NASA has brought in an expert team to review the thrust failures that occurred but is also considering the possibility of using Crew Dragon as a backup. NASA mission chief Ken Bowersox said both options were still on the table as the agency decides how to get the astronauts safely home.
NASA is expected to make its final decision in the coming days, Bowersox said.
A spokesperson for Boeing said if the crew returns aboard the February Crew Dragon flight, it would take steps to configure Starliner for an unmanned return to Earth.
Boeing said in a statement that it continued to believe in its spacecraft’s “capability” and “flight rationale.”
However, the testing results revealed further problems that have caused greater concern about whether Starliner could make the return flight safely, prompting NASA to consider using the more experienced and reliable Crew Dragon.
Starliner has been docked at the space station for more than 70 of the maximum 90 days and is docked at the port Crew Dragon would have to use when it delivers a crew in the fall.
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