The latest mission to the International Space Station (ISS) operated jointly by NASA and Boeing has become much longer than expected. Named the Boeing Starliner mission, it started in 2016 with a $4.2 billion contract awarded by NASA. It was only launched on June 5th, 2024 and was expected to be completed eight days later. The Starliner is a gumdrop-shaped pod equipped for up to seven astronauts, and has already cost $ 1.5 billion more than originally expected. In this specific mission, two astronauts departed: Suni Williams and Butch Wilmor. They left Earth more than two months ago and due to a technical issue at the docking station, they are still not able to safely travel back to Earth.
The Starliner craft ran into complications with its engine thrusters while attempting to maneuver its way to the approach base. Given the experience of the astronauts, they are ready for such scenarios and have the required training to adjust to this delay. Currently, engineers are running a review of the thrusters and the propulsion system. One major problem that was found is the leakage of helium gas into the system. Boeing firmly believes that the aircraft can be repaired, and a safe return of the astronauts can be arranged in the next weeks or months. Meanwhile, NASA is growing more skeptical and is seriously considering sending a Space X craft to complete the landing at the station and allow the crew a timely and safe return to Earth. If the repairs on the Starliner don’t fully convince NASA, the capsule would be sent back without the two astronauts on board.
In addition to uncertainty on the timing for the return journey, one major obstacle that remains is the equipment and space suits that two astronauts work and are trained with, entirely fit for the Boeing Airliner. If NASA decides to hand the responsibility to SpaceX, this comes with significant risks. The crew members would need to wear SpaceX gear and adapt to the different equipment. Boeing and Space X, by far the two main players, are awarded billion-dollar contracts by Nasa to provide commercial space flights for its astronauts. Other minor players are Sierra, Blue Origin, Ula and Paragon. The market for Space crafts, estimated to be around $7 billion, is very competitive. Technical problems like these add to Boeing’s struggles to compete with space rivals like Space X, which successfully managed to fly its first human mission in 2020. In the hope that the mission is successfully completed soon enough, there is a lot at stake for Boeing to have its own airliner get the job done.
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