Starliner Issue Represents NASA’s Biggest Safety Challenge In Decades

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams thought they would be spending just over a week aboard the International Space Station when the Starliner spacecraft blasted off. But that was more than two months ago, and they’re still there.

That’s because the Boeing-built craft experienced some serious issues involving, among other things, a troubling helium leak, that caused NASA engineers to press pause on its return to Earth with Wilmore and Williams on board.

A big decision to make

Testing of the Starliner has drawn mixed reviews from experts, including some who believe it is fit to bring the astronauts back home and others who think the spacecraft should be ditched in favor of an alternative, i.e. the SpaceX Dragon capsule.

The Dragon option is believed to be safer, though there are some logistics to address regarding docking on the ISS … not the least of which involves coordinating the Starliner’s return without its crew.

Making the right call in this situation could be a matter of life and death, and some of the NASA officials who will weigh in on the decision were also involved in another incident that tragically led to the loss of seven lives.

From 2003 to today

It was just over two decades ago that the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded upon re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, killing the entire crew. That disaster was later attributed to a piece of insulating foam that broke away from the craft on liftoff.

The experience fueled concerns that NASA had overlooked fundamental safety issues, and the agency now has an opportunity to address those concerns.

A final decision regarding how to approach the current situation is expected this week by a core group of decision-makers that includes some who played a key role in overseeing the doomed Challenger mission.

Chris Agee August 13th, 2024

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