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NASA's Strategic Shift in Astronaut Return Plans
2024-08-25 17:55:08
Space
Technology

NASA's Strategic Shift in Astronaut Return Plans

Image courtesy of : Wikipedia/NASA/Public Domain

NASA's decision to delay Boeing Starliner return for astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore marks a pivotal shift. The duo, facing technical setbacks like helium leaks, will now return aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon in 2025. This move follows safety concerns post-Boeing 737 Max crashes.

The Polaris Dawn mission by SpaceX, led by Jared Isaacman, introduces commercial spacewalks and aims at Musk's multiplanetary vision. The late-night rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center promises a historic milestone with EVA spacesuit debut.

NASA's $8.4 billion investment, divided between Boeing and SpaceX, reflects a changing spaceflight narrative. The agency's emphasis on crew safety underscores a mission prioritizing reliability over expediency.

Related news on that topic:

Astronauts Return with SpaceX, Starliner Delayed

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will return to Earth in a SpaceX capsule after their 8-month stay on the ISS, as the Boeing Starliner they launched on had technical issues. The Starliner's astronauts will stay in space until 2025, conducting spacewalks, maintaining the station, and carrying out science experiments. NASA is confident in Boeing's ability to transport crews in the future. Meanwhile, SpaceX is set to launch a mission for the first private spacewalk, with billionaire Jared Isaacman and three crewmates orbiting higher than any spacecraft since the Apollo missions. The mission will test new EVA suits for future moon and Mars missions. Polaris Dawn is the first of three planned missions in the Polaris Program, with the third aiming to be the first crewed mission of SpaceX's Starship. The spacewalk will not be as iconic as the first American spacewalk but is significant in private space exploration.

NASA Astronauts to Return Home on SpaceX Flight: How Will it Work?

NASA has announced that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June due to issues with the Boeing Starliner, will return to Earth in 2025 on a SpaceX Crew-9 mission. SpaceX will reconfigure its Dragon spacecraft with a 3D printed helmet and a single connection point for the flight under NASA's Commercial Crew program. The Starliner mission faced thruster problems in June 2022, adding to Boeing's recent crises. NASA's decision to return the astronauts on SpaceX's Crew Dragon and bring Starliner back uncrewed is based on safety concerns. Despite the setbacks, NASA remains committed to the Starliner program and hopes to correct the problems for future crew flights. In the meantime, Wilmore and Williams will continue conducting scientific experiments during their extended stay on the ISS. SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, is also preparing for a private spacewalk mission called 'Polaris Dawn' which includes the first private spacewalk from the Dragon capsule without an airlock.

Read 9 more recent news on this topic

The press radar on this topic:

Yahoo!
25. August 2024 um 08:02

SpaceX Polaris Dawn late-night rocket launch: When to watch it in Daytona, New Smyrna Beach

Technology
Economy
Jared Isaacman, a Shift4 founder and civilian entrepreneur, is set to lead a SpaceX Dragon mission called Polaris Dawn on Aug. 27. The crew includes pilot Scott "Kidd" Poteet, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel who flew with the Thunderbirds, mission specialist Sarah Gillis, and mission specialist/medical officer Anna Menon. This mission will feature the debut of the SpaceX EVA spacesuit and the first-ever spacewalk by a private company. Isaacman previously commanded the all-civilian..
sueddeutsche
25. August 2024 um 13:18

Space Travel: They Wanted to Be Away for a Week, Now It's Eight Months

Technology
Two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, are stranded on the ISS; their return with the Boeing Starliner capsule is delayed by eight months due to technical problems.
mashable
25. August 2024 um 15:08

NASA's new plan keeps Starliner astronauts in space until 2025

Technology
Economy
NASA delays Starliner astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore's return until 2025 due to Starliner propulsion system and thruster issues; Starliner's planned eight-day test run becomes eight-month stay on ISS, to fly unmanned; astronauts to return on SpaceX capsule; NASA cites safety concerns after past mistakes, including Boeing 737 Max crashes.
HindustanTimes
25. August 2024 um 14:55

A day after NASA said Sunita Williams will return with SpaceX, Elon Musk company issues Polaris Dawn update

Technology
Economy
Polaris Dawn mission crew: commander Jared Isaacman, pilot Scott "Kid Poteet", Sarah Gills, and Anna Menon; SpaceX to conduct first commercial spacewalk on Aug 27, exposing crew to radiation belt; NASA to rescue astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore aboard SpaceX Crew-9 in Feb 2025 after Boeing Starliner issues like helium leaks; Williams and Wilmore to continue as Expedition 71/72 crew; SpaceX Crew-9 mission initially scheduled for Aug 18, now delayed to Sep 24.
Frankfurter Rundschau
25. August 2024 um 14:38

Die sichere Variante

Technologie
Die Nasa hat sich für die sichere Variante entschieden, anstatt den Boeing Starliner zu nutzen, um Suni Williams und Butch Wilmore von der ISS zur Erde zurückzubringen. Dies zeigt eine Änderung in der Fehlerkultur der Raumfahrtorganisation nach den Shuttle-Unglücken von 1986 und 2003, da man nie wieder für tote Astronauten verantwortlich sein wollte. Die Astronauten müssen bis Februar 2025 warten, nutzen dann aber eine Kapsel ohne Heliumlecks und Probleme mit Steuerungsdüsen. Obwohl dies zunäc..
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