At Extreme Investor Network, we bring you the latest developments in the business world, and today we have some exciting news from the space industry. NASA and Boeing have announced that Boeing’s Starliner capsule will be returning from the International Space Station (ISS) without the NASA astronauts it originally delivered. Instead, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will return via SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on September 24.
This decision marks a significant shift for NASA and Boeing, as they previously planned for Starliner to be the primary choice for returning the crew. However, due to issues with Starliner’s propulsion system during its crew flight test, the organizations decided to bring the capsule back empty.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of safety in these test flights, stating that the decision was the result of a commitment to ensuring the spacecraft’s reliability. Despite the setback, both NASA and Boeing remain dedicated to understanding the root causes of the issues and making necessary improvements for future missions.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule, named “Calypso,” has been stationed at the ISS since early June, with NASA extending the mission indefinitely to address the thruster failures that occurred during docking. The thrusters are vital for Starliner’s safe return to Earth, and NASA has identified them as an ongoing problem that needs to be resolved.
While this delay is a setback for Boeing in NASA’s Commercial Crew program, with significant financial losses already incurred, both NASA and Boeing remain optimistic about the future of crewed missions. Despite the challenges, Boeing remains committed to supporting NASA’s mission objectives and ensuring the safety and success of future space missions.
Stay tuned to Extreme Investor Network for more updates on this evolving story and other exciting developments in the world of business and technology.