NASA faces a high-stakes choice: bring astronauts home on Boeing’s glitch-prone Starliner or pivot to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. The clock is ticking—officials say they’ll decide by August’s end 🕒.
Mission Delays & Thruster Troubles
Astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams arrived at the ISS on June 5 via Boeing’s Starliner, planning an 8-day stay. But thruster malfunctions during the spacecraft’s first crewed mission pushed their return into limbo 🔧. ‘We need to make a call soon,’ said NASA’s Ken Bowersox. ‘The big worry? A safe deorbit burn.’
Spacecraft Showdown
If Starliner’s deemed unsafe, SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission in September could rescue the duo—but it’s not ideal. Bringing them home would delay their return to February 2025 🚀. NASA’s Joel Montalbano noted SpaceX’s Dragon capsule currently lacks suits for Wilmore and Williams, adding another layer of complexity.
‘Risky Business’
NASA’s chief astronaut Joe Acaba said the crew knew this test flight ‘might not be perfect.’ Wilmore (178 days in space) and Williams (322 days) are pros, but the stakes for Boeing are sky-high. A SpaceX rescue would be a major blow to the aerospace giant, which has struggled to match Elon Musk’s rival firm.
Remember: This isn’t just about two astronauts—it’s a pivotal moment in the modern space race 🌟.
