From CNBC: 2024-08-24 16:44:52

NASA announced that Boeing’s Starliner capsule will return from the International Space Station empty, without the astronauts it delivered in June. Instead, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will return via SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on Sept. 24. The decision to bring Starliner back empty stems from propulsion system issues encountered during the crew flight test. NASA will conduct another Flight Readiness Review to determine when to bring Starliner back.

Boeing officials had previously insisted Starliner was safe for astronauts to return home, but delays and technical disagreements prompted the decision to have the astronauts return via SpaceX instead. NASA expressed support for Boeing and plans to further investigate the issues to ensure safety. Boeing remains committed to a safe and successful uncrewed return of Starliner as determined by NASA.

SpaceX will now bring astronauts on board its Crew-9 vehicle instead of four, to accommodate Wilmore and Williams. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell expressed readiness to support NASA in bringing the crew home safely. The ongoing thruster issues with Starliner have delayed the return, impacting Boeing’s progress in NASA’s Commercial Crew program and potentially jeopardizing its future involvement.

Boeing’s Starliner capsule, named “Calypso,” has been at the International Space Station since early June. The mission, initially intended to last nine days, faced setbacks due to thruster failures during docking. The propulsion system issues are key for the safe return of Starliner from the ISS. NASA cited these ongoing problems as a reason for bringing the capsule back empty and choosing SpaceX for the crew’s return mission.



Read more at CNBC: Boeing Starliner returning empty, NASA to use SpaceX to get astronauts