Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, developed under NASA's commercial crew program, encountered significant challenges during its maiden crewed flight. Technical issues and safety concerns, including thruster problems and a series of small helium leaks, resulted in a complicated mission that impacted the International Space Station (ISS) crew dynamics. Initially intended to transport astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore back to Earth, the mission faced delays, leaving the astronauts on the ISS for an extended period.
The Starliner's technical difficulties led NASA and Boeing to return the spacecraft to Earth empty in September. As a result, Williams and Wilmore were reassigned to serve as ISS crew members, replacing two other astronauts. These unforeseen developments extended their stay on the ISS from a planned week to over nine months.
The spacecraft's inability to dock with the ISS contributed to further delays. The unresolved thruster issues and helium leaks prevented the Starliner from completing its mission as planned. Ultimately, the spacecraft returned to Earth without its intended passengers.
The prolonged stay on the ISS caused several awkward situations for Williams and Wilmore, as they had not anticipated such an extended mission. The complications surrounding the Starliner mission also sparked a public dispute between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen. Musk accused Mogensen of dishonesty regarding Williams and Wilmore's scheduled return in September.
In response to the situation, Musk emphasized a positive outlook regarding the astronauts' situation on the ISS.
“if you’ll help us change the rhetoric, help us change the narrative, let’s change it to ‘prepared and committed’, that’s what we prefer.” – Musk
Despite these challenges, Boeing remains committed to earning a new flight readiness certification for the Starliner spacecraft. The company is working diligently to address the technical issues that plagued its maiden crewed flight. However, according to Aviation Week, the Starliner is unlikely to fly again before 2025.
The delay in the Starliner's mission and its subsequent return to Earth empty also affected the planned rotation schedule for astronauts on the ISS. This led to an unexpected extension of duties for Williams and Wilmore, who adapted to their prolonged stay.
Wilmore expressed uncertainty about the decisions made during the mission and emphasized a lack of information regarding various aspects of the process.
“We have no information on … what was offered, what was not offered, who it was offered to, how that process went.” – Wilmore
The Starliner's maiden crewed flight was intended to demonstrate Boeing's capabilities as part of NASA's commercial crew program. However, technical setbacks and safety concerns overshadowed this goal, necessitating further evaluation and certification efforts before future missions can proceed.