NASA plans to conduct an agency-level readiness review that has not yet been completed before the end of next week to decide whether Boeing Starliner capsule work safely bringing both crews back to Earthsenior manager said Wednesday.
If so, the Starliner commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore and co-pilot Sunita Williams could undock from the International Space Station and return home in early to mid-September, freeing up the lab’s forward port for docking by the SpaceX crew later that month.
But if managers concluded the Starliner’s earlier thruster problems and helium leaks posed an unacceptable risk, Wilmore and Williams would stay on the station and return home next February aboard Crew Dragon.
NASA
In that case, the Starliner will launch the robot and try to re-enter and land on its own. Crew Dragon will launch on September 24 with two astronauts on board instead of four, freeing up two seats for Wilmore and Williams to use during the ship’s return early next year.
“We expect the data analysis to be ready for (review) mid to late next week, and to be ready for the flight readiness review by the end of next week, possibly starting next week,” he said. Ken Bowersox, a former astronaut who is now NASA’s chief of space operations.
“I know everyone wants a date. We have some work dates, but … we have to keep that flexibility so that we are ready for the meeting before … We have time available before we bring the Starliner home, and we want to use that time wisely .
Wilmore and Williams the explosion died atop the Atlas 5 rocket on June 5. During the approach to the space station the next day, the five rear-facing thrusters provided less thrust than expected and four helium leaks developed in the propulsion system piping, adding to other minor leaks known before launch. .
Since then, engineers have been checking telemetry, conducting thruster tests in orbit and on the ground to determine the cause of the degraded performance. Both systems were critical in allowing the craft to safely depart the station, re-enter the atmosphere and land in the western United States.
NASA
“He’s been for a long time, dedicated to getting the right answers, whatever he can,” said Russ DeLoach, chief of NASA Safety and Mission Assurance. “I am confident that our process has been a good decision on the right path to bring Starliner and her crew home.”
DeLoach said at least part of the reason the review has dragged on for so long is the result of changes in the wake of the Columbia shuttle disaster to ensure engineers up and down the chain of command can voice concerns about technical issues and make sure their views. make it into the decision making process.
“At that point, the program manager had almost made a unilateral decision,” DeLoach said. “And, if there’s an opinion that the path we’re on is not right, there’s really no strong additional authority to step in and say ‘wait a minute.'”
“For me, personally, lately I have focused a lot on this concept to fight the silence of the organization. If you look at both sides, unfortunately, Challenger and Columbia, you can see cases where people have the right data or a position that right. filed, but the environment just doesn’t allow it.”
That has changed, he said, but “I know that may mean, at times, we don’t move too fast because we take everything out. And I think you can see that in play here. … We have to be very careful to ensure that everyone’s perspective can be shared.”
After the latest program control board meeting where the Starliner data collected so far was discussed, Bowersox said that some engineers favored clearing the ship for return to Earth, some were opposed and some wanted more time to review additional data.
They don’t say which option has the most support.
