NASA astronauts Commander Barry Wilmore and Pilot Sunita Williams launched from Earth on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, heading to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission marked Starliner's first crewed flight and was planned to last eight days. However, due to technical issues during the mission, the astronauts' return to Earth was delayed, making this a rare event in space history.

The Mission Plan and Expectations

According to NASA's plan, the Starliner spacecraft was to be launched by an Atlas V rocket and dock with the ISS. The primary goal of the mission was to test Starliner's reliability and determine whether it could become a viable vehicle for transporting astronauts to space in the future. Wilmore and Williams were scheduled to stay on the ISS for eight days before returning to Earth aboard Starliner. Both astronauts were experienced, having spent a total of 500 days in space, and were specifically chosen for this mission.

^{Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which launched NASA's Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, is seen through a window of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft. (Credit: NASA)}

Problems During the Mission

Starliner's issues began even before the launch. The first test flight was postponed from 2017 to 2019, and the second test flight was delayed from 2021 to 2022. During the first flight, the spacecraft failed to reach the space station, and during the second flight, serious technical issues were identified before launch. Wilmore and Williams' mission was also delayed several times, finally launching on June 5, 2024.

A helium leak was detected during the launch, but it was deemed not to affect safety, so the launch proceeded. However, Starliner encountered multiple technical problems in space. Malfunctions in the propulsion systems made it difficult to control the spacecraft's orientation. Before docking with the ISS, five thrusters failed. Four of these thrusters were recovered, but one did not function at full capacity. Additionally, helium leaks continued even after docking.

Astronauts Stranded in Space

Due to these issues, NASA decided that Starliner could not safely return the astronauts to Earth. On August 24, 2024, it was announced that Starliner would return to Earth empty, and the astronauts would remain on the ISS until February 2025. Wilmore and Williams will return to Earth aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. This decision was a major disappointment for Boeing, as the company had developed Starliner with $4.2 billion in funding from NASA, aiming to make it a reliable vehicle for crewed space missions.

^{Wilmore and Williams (Credit: NASA)}

Similar Events in Space History

Astronauts being stranded in space is a rare occurrence in space history. However, in 1991, Soviet cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev had to spend 311 days on the Mir space station due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Krikalev remained in space until the new Russian government was established.

The Apollo 13 mission is another similar example. In 1970, Apollo 13, which was headed to the Moon, experienced a major crisis when its fuel cells exploded. However, NASA engineers managed to bring the astronauts back to Earth safely. Although the mission started as a failure, it turned into a success story with the astronauts' survival.

Next Steps

The Boeing Starliner mission highlighted the challenges that can arise during the development of spacecraft. NASA and Boeing are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the causes of the issues. The data obtained from Starliner's empty return to Earth will provide valuable insights for future missions.

Wilmore and Williams will return to Earth in February 2025 aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. In the meantime, they will continue their scientific work on the ISS alongside other astronauts. While safety is always a top priority in space missions, such challenges remind us how complex and risky human spaceflight can be.

Switching Spacecraft in Space

In space history, it is common for astronauts to travel to space in one vehicle and return in another. For example, in 1969, the Soviet Union's Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 spacecraft docked in space, and cosmonauts transferred between the vehicles. Similarly, after 1995, NASA's space shuttles and Russian Soyuz capsules allowed astronauts to travel to and from space using different vehicles.

The Starliner mission once again demonstrated how unpredictable and challenging space missions can be. NASA and Boeing aim to learn from this experience to achieve safer and more successful outcomes in future missions.