Sunita Williams News: NASA And Boeing Near Decision On Starliner’s Return From ISS

NASA and Boeing are reviewing data to determine if the Starliner spacecraft, with astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore aboard, can return to Earth.

Starliner Return News: NASA and Boeing are in the final stages of analysing data ahead of a crucial decision regarding the return of the Starliner spacecraft that took astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS) but could not come back due to technical issues. The decision, which will determine whether Starliner will return to Earth with the astronauts aboard, is expected no earlier than Saturday, August 24, following an extensive review led by Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate, the space agency said in an update.

The upcoming agency-level review, which will involve key NASA leadership and technical experts, will be a decisive step in determining the readiness of the spacecraft for its return mission. Any formal dissents regarding the mission will be presented and addressed during the review, ensuring all concerns are reconciled before a final decision is made. 

Following the review, NASA plans to host a televised news conference to discuss the findings and outline the next steps, though details of the conference are yet to be confirmed.

Evaluating 'New Model'

In preparation for the review, NASA said, the agency along with Boeing has been working closely to finalise the flight rationale. Engineering teams have focused on evaluating a newly developed model that simulates the thruster mechanics more precisely, enabling a better understanding of the system’s redundancy during critical phases, such as undocking and service module separation. This refined model, along with spacecraft performance data and integrated risk assessments, will be central to the conclusions of the review.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who arrived at the ISS on Starliner on June 6, meanwhile are working aboard the microgravity laboratory along with Expedition 71 crew. Alongside research and maintenance activities, the crew has been actively supporting preparations for the spacecraft’s potential return, NASA said.

The mission, launched on June 5 aboard a ULA Atlas V rocket, marks a critical end-to-end test of the Starliner system under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

NASA had earlier said in case it is seen that the Starliner cannot return with astronauts, Williams and Wilmore might have to remain in space until February 2025, and brought back via SpaceX Dragon with Crew-9 as part of an "adjusted" mission plan.