Sunita Williams in Space: What happens if Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft’s return to Earth is further delayed? NASA says…

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which carried NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5, is scheduled to return unmanned to Earth on Friday, September 6.

Minutes before Starliner is due to undock from the ISS, NASA will conduct a “go/no-go” survey to assess conditions at the intended landing site in White Sands, New Mexico. Once conditions are clear, undocking is expected at 6:04 p.m. EDT (3:30 a.m. IST), with springs immediately pushing the spacecraft away from the ISS.

But what if the Will the Starliner’s return to Earth on Friday be delayed?

Anthony Vareha, flight director of the International Space Station, said Wednesday that if for some reason the joint team decides not to undock on Friday, “we have opportunities to undock on several later days, but this will depend on weather conditions.”

He added that once the hatch in Starliner is closed on Thursday, “we will keep it closed regardless of the undocking date.”

According to a report, four-day intervals will be maintained between replacement options to provide flexibility and ensure safe landing conditions.

Worst-case scenario: “A very long rule”

While NASA experts said they have full confidence in Starliner and its safe return to Earth, Vareha said, “These rules give us guidance on what we can do without and what we would actually abort undocking for. It’s a very long rule.”

Asked about the worst-case scenario in which undocking could be delayed, Vareha said Wednesday that NASA expects the Starliner’s engines to be functional during the breakaway launch. He explained that the “go/no-go” survey will take into account not only the Starliner but also several other factors.

“We do a go/no-go survey before undocking. It’s not just about the Starliner, we want to make sure the entire ISS and all of its systems are in good shape to support the undocking of the Starliner, and we need to make sure we have good communication between the ground teams, the ISS, the Starliner… all of these things we need to make sure everything is OK,” the NASA official said.

During the flight to the ISS, the Starliner capsule experienced several engine failures and helium leaks in the propulsion system. Boeing conducted extensive engine tests in space and on the ground and was convinced that the capsule could bring the astronauts back safely. But NASA disagreed and set the complex space transport in motion.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were supposed to return to Earth in June with Boeing’s damaged Starliner capsule, one week after launch on their first crewed test flight.

However, after extensive testing and analysis of engine problems and helium leaks, NASA decided last weekend that it would be safer for SpaceX to fly the rocket home. But that won’t happen until February 2025, more than eight months after launch.