NASA is grappling with the decision on when and how to bring back two astronauts from the International Space Station, with the return aboard Boeing’s capsule facing repeated delays.
Should they take a risk and send them back soon in Boeing’s Starliner, or wait until next year and bring them back with SpaceX?
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been on the station since early June, surpassing their planned eight-day mission to potentially eight months.
While testing continues and Boeing remains confident in its spacecraft, NASA is divided. A decision is expected next week.
Boeing insists its capsule can safely bring the astronauts back, but is prepared to bring the capsule back empty if that is NASA’s decision. The company has published a list of all the tests conducted on the thrusters since liftoff.
“We still believe in Starliner’s capability and its flight rationale,” the company stated.
