NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have been in space for over 63 days, which is more than what was initially expected. The space agency noted that it’s not clear when they’ll return.
NASA is considering letting SpaceX carry out the mission and bring back Wilmore and Williams, which could extend their stay on the ISS by about six months.
This move by NASA officials shows a dramatic change in tone from their previous statements.
They previously said that Williams and Wilmore would most likely be returning to Earth aboard the Starliner, while a backup plan involving the Crew Dragon was also an option. Now, it seems that SpaceX is becoming a serious option.
An official from NASA noted that the possibility of an uncrewed Starliner landing has increased due to the progress of its internal review processes.
Due to the various factors that have changed, NASA is now considering a different approach when it comes to preparing the Starliner for its return to Earth.
A spokesperson for the space agency told CNN that it hasn’t started the process yet.
On July 26, NASA had said that it would begin the process of preparing the Starliner for its return in August.
As the mission nears its end, NASA and Boeing are still working on a possible return date for the Starliner.
The two organizations are currently analyzing data related to the issues that caused the first leg of the flight to be delayed.
During a recent ground test in New Mexico, the teams were surprised by the results.
During a press briefing, NASA officials said that the agency discovered that the excess heat around the thrusters of the Starliner caused the seals to bulge.
However, they were not able to identify the exact cause of the issue and how it could affect the spacecraft in space.
The officials also noted that the uncertainty about the issue’s cause has caused some internal disagreements within the organization.
Officials of NASA grew increasingly uncomfortable with the design and operation of the thrusters. As the space agency struggles to determine the exact cause of the issue and the possible danger it poses to the crew of the Starliner, it has started to seriously consider alternate routes for returning astronauts Wilmore and Williams.
SpaceX and Boeing officials were not available for comment during the briefing. In a statement, Boeing noted that the Starliner is safe to bring back the astronauts. NASA officials also said that they are considering multiple scenarios if the spacecraft is not able to return to Earth with Wilmore and Williams.
One of the possible scenarios that NASA is considering is to launch the Crew-9 mission, which would have two people on board instead of four. This would allow Williams and Wilmore to return home on their own. As a result, they would become part of the ISS’ rotation.
This would mean that Williams and Wilmore would stay on the ISS for an additional six months, which would push their return to Earth back to February 2025.