Sunita Williams, Butch Whilmore Not Returning To Earth Before 2025: Spaceflight Is 'Risky', Says NASA

NASA announced on Saturday that Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth without astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams aboard.

Instead, the two astronauts, who have been on the International Space Station (ISS) since June as part of NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test, will return in February 2025 aboard a Crew Dragon capsule owned by SpaceX.

Photo Credit: ANI

This uncrewed return of the Starliner allows NASA and Boeing to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the spacecraft's performance during its journey back to Earth.

Wilmore and Williams will continue their scientific work, maintenance, and system testing on the ISS until their scheduled return.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of safety in this decision: "Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine. The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the ISS and bring Boeing's Starliner home uncrewed is the result of our commitment to safety: our core value and our North Star." He also acknowledged the efforts of NASA and Boeing teams in ensuring a thorough evaluation of the spacecraft's systems.

The Starliner is expected to make a controlled autonomous re-entry in early September. This decision follows the discovery of helium leaks and issues with the spacecraft's reaction control thrusters during its approach to the ISS on June 6.

Since then, engineering teams have engaged in extensive data review, flight and ground testing, and independent safety assessments.

Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate, praised the teams for their transparent discussions and dedication to safety.

"We've learned a lot about the spacecraft during its journey to the station and its docked operations," he noted, underscoring the significance of the uncrewed return for future missions.

Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, highlighted the need for heightened certainty in crewed missions.

"This flight test is providing critical information on Starliner's performance in space," he said, emphasising the ongoing collaboration between NASA and Boeing to improve the spacecraft's systems for future missions.