Boeing Starliner Astronauts Mark 80th Day Aboard ISS Amid Growing Concerns
As the calendar flips to the 80th day since their arrival, the crew aboard Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft continues its mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who launched on this expedition on June 5, 2024, have been engaged in a variety of scientific experiments and station maintenance tasks. However, with growing technical challenges and ongoing discussions about their return, the crew’s extended stay is becoming a subject of interest among space agencies and enthusiasts alike.
Crew Activities and Challenges
The Boeing Starliner and ISS crews, consisting of seasoned NASA astronauts and their international counterparts, have been involved in research that spans from biological studies to advancements in material science. Their work contributes to understanding how long-duration spaceflight affects the human body and how new materials behave in microgravity. However, their mission has not been without its challenges.
Originally intended for a shorter stay, the Starliner mission has encountered several logistical issues, prompting NASA and Boeing to extend the crew’s time aboard the ISS. The decision was influenced by the need for additional data on the Starliner’s systems and unforeseen complications that arose during the mission. While the crew remains in good spirits, the extended duration of their stay raises questions about the spacecraft’s long-term reliability and the readiness of Boeing’s systems for future missions.
Today, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and leadership will hold an internal Agency Test Flight Readiness Review on Saturday, Aug. 24, for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. About an hour later, NASA will host a live news conference at 1 p.m. EDT from the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NASA and Boeing officials will discuss data collected, both in space and on the ground, regarding the Starliner spacecraft’s propulsion and helium systems to better understand the ongoing technical challenges. NASA is expected to decide on one of two possible paths forward: either proceed with the original plan to return the astronauts aboard the Starliner or switch to a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft for their return. The latter option, however, would extend the astronauts’ stay on the ISS by several months. The choice between these options will not only affect the current mission but also has broader implications for Boeing’s role in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Audio of the teleconference will stream live on the agency’s website at:
The Polaris Dawn Mission
Meanwhile, another crew prepares for a groundbreaking mission under the Polaris Program, an initiative designed to push the boundaries of human spaceflight. The Polaris Dawn mission, led by SpaceX under the leadership of Jared Isaacman, aims to achieve the highest Earth orbit ever attempted by a crewed spacecraft since the Apollo missions. Scheduled to launch no earlier than August 27, 2024, the mission will test new spacesuit designs, perform extravehicular activities (EVAs), and conduct experiments that could pave the way for future deep-space exploration.
The Polaris Dawn crew, composed of experienced astronauts and private spaceflight participants, will engage in research that focuses on Earth observation, space medicine, and technology development. Their journey will include a series of ambitious objectives, such as flying in a higher orbit than the ISS and testing SpaceX’s capabilities for future lunar and Martian expeditions.
Mission Objectives:
- High Altitude Flight: The mission aims to achieve the highest Earth orbit ever flown by a Dragon spacecraft, reaching about 435 miles above Earth, which will take the crew through the Van Allen radiation belts to study the effects of space radiation on human health.
- First Commercial Spacewalk: The crew will conduct the first-ever commercial extravehicular activity (EVA) using SpaceX-designed spacesuits, marking a significant milestone in the development of scalable spacesuits for future long-duration missions.
- Health Impact Research: The mission will conduct around 40 experiments focused on advancing our understanding of human health during spaceflight, including studies on decompression sickness and Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS).
The Crew:
- Jared Isaacman (Mission Commander): A seasoned pilot and entrepreneur, Isaacman is the CEO of Shift4 and has extensive aviation experience with over 7,000 flight hours. He previously commanded the Inspiration4 mission, the first all-civilian spaceflight. Isaacman is known for his philanthropic efforts, having raised millions for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
- Scott Poteet (Mission Pilot): A retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Poteet has over 3,200 flying hours in various military aircraft and has served in combat operations. He also played a significant role in the Inspiration4 mission as its Mission Director. Poteet is an accomplished athlete, having competed in multiple Ironman triathlons.
- Sarah Gillis (Mission Specialist): Gillis is a Lead Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX, responsible for astronaut training for both NASA and commercial astronauts. Her background includes mission control operations for Dragon spacecraft and training the Inspiration4 crew. Originally trained as a classical violinist, Gillis shifted to aerospace engineering, inspired by a mentor who was a former NASA astronaut.
- Anna Menon (Mission Specialist & Medical Officer): Menon, also a Lead Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX, has a background in biomedical engineering and has served as a biomedical flight controller for the ISS at NASA. Her role on Polaris Dawn includes overseeing crew operations and serving as the mission’s medical officer.
SpaceX Crew-9: The Potential Rescue Team
As the Starliner crew continues their mission, SpaceX’s Crew-9 astronauts stand ready for their own launch to the ISS. However, they may be called upon for a different task—serving as a potential rescue team for the Starliner astronauts. Due to ongoing technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, NASA has delayed making a final decision about how and when these astronauts will return to Earth. Although such scenarios are rare, NASA and SpaceX have prepared contingency plans should the need arise. Currently the members of Crew 9 Dragon Endurance are: NASA astronauts Commander Zena Cardman, Pilot Nick Hague, and Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov.
NASA is expected to decide today on the possibility of returning the Boeing Starliner astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, on the same mission as SpaceX’s Crew-9. One of the options being considered is to launch only two astronauts from the Crew-9 mission instead of the usual four. This would allow the Starliner astronauts to remain on the ISS until February 2025 and return to Earth with Crew-9 after their mission. If this plan is approved, the choice of the two Crew-9 astronauts selected to go to the ISS would be crucial for maintaining operations until Wilmore and Williams can return.
The decision to launch Crew-9 with only two members instead of four hinges on NASA’s final assessment of the Starliner’s readiness and safety. The Crew-9 mission, now scheduled for no earlier than September 24, 2024, is critical to ensuring continuity of operations on the ISS while also freeing up docking ports currently occupied by other spacecraft.
Once 80 Days: Now 16 Times a Day
On this 80th day of the Starliner Spacecraft, I am reminded of the novel Around the World in 80 Days by author Jules Verne written in 1872. How surprised would he be now to know there is a craft that can go around the world 16 times in a single day at 17,500 miles per hour! “It is by no means useless to travel, if a man wants to see something new.” Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days (1873).
