'NASA astronauts discuss failed Starliner mission: 'We all own this''
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams publicly discussed the challenges of their mission for the first time during a press conference on Monday. The duo spent an unexpected nine months aboard the International Space Station due to...
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NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams publicly discussed the challenges of their mission for the first time during a press conference on Monday. The duo spent an unexpected nine months aboard the International Space Station due to malfunctions with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
Wilmore acknowledged that the responsibility for the failed test flight lies with everyone involved—from him and Williams to Boeing and NASA. At the Johnson Space Center in Houston, he noted some critical oversights on his part, saying, "I'll start and point the finger and I'll blame me. I could have asked some questions and the answers to those questions could have turned the tide." He emphasized shared accountability, stating, "All the way up and down the chain. We all are responsible. We all own this."
The astronauts are scheduled to meet with Boeing leadership on April 2 to address the technical issues. They remain confident about the future of the Starliner, with Wilmore asserting, "We're going to rectify all the issues... We're going to make it work," and expressing his eagerness to fly again "in a heartbeat."
Williams mirrored this dedication, saying they're "all in" to ensure the spacecraft's success.
Initially designed for an eight-day mission after its launch on June 5, 2023, the test flight extended into a 286-day experience due to issues with the thrusters and helium leaks during the journey to the International Space Station. NASA ultimately ruled that Starliner was unsafe for their return, resulting in an uncrewed landing of the capsule in September 2023 while Williams and Wilmore stayed aboard the station.
The two astronauts eventually returned to Earth on March 18 aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon, following several delays in launching replacements.
Despite the ordeal, both Wilmore and Williams, who are former U.S. Navy test pilots, remain positive about their extended mission. "It's great being back home after being up there," Williams shared with the AP, excitedly reflecting on her delayed reunion with her Labrador retrievers as "pure joy."
Wilmore humorously recounted his return to everyday life, noting that his wife wants to replace all the shrubs in their yard before summer. "So I've got to get my body ready to dig holes."
NASA is planning summer ground tests for Starliner's propulsion system, with ambitions for uncrewed test flights possible as early as 2026 before considering human missions. As the retirement of the ISS approaches within five years, the agency continues to support its dual-provider strategy with Boeing and SpaceX, even as Starliner's development challenges have exceeded $2 billion since 2016.
"We had a very unique perspective of being in the spacecraft – nobody else had that perspective," Williams remarked, highlighting their vital role in improving Starliner. In their upcoming meeting with Boeing, Wilmore emphasized that the focus is not on blame but on "making the path clearer going forward."
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
Wilmore acknowledged that the responsibility for the failed test flight lies with everyone involved—from him and Williams to Boeing and NASA. At the Johnson Space Center in Houston, he noted some critical oversights on his part, saying, "I'll start and point the finger and I'll blame me. I could have asked some questions and the answers to those questions could have turned the tide." He emphasized shared accountability, stating, "All the way up and down the chain. We all are responsible. We all own this."
The astronauts are scheduled to meet with Boeing leadership on April 2 to address the technical issues. They remain confident about the future of the Starliner, with Wilmore asserting, "We're going to rectify all the issues... We're going to make it work," and expressing his eagerness to fly again "in a heartbeat."
Williams mirrored this dedication, saying they're "all in" to ensure the spacecraft's success.
Initially designed for an eight-day mission after its launch on June 5, 2023, the test flight extended into a 286-day experience due to issues with the thrusters and helium leaks during the journey to the International Space Station. NASA ultimately ruled that Starliner was unsafe for their return, resulting in an uncrewed landing of the capsule in September 2023 while Williams and Wilmore stayed aboard the station.
The two astronauts eventually returned to Earth on March 18 aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon, following several delays in launching replacements.
Despite the ordeal, both Wilmore and Williams, who are former U.S. Navy test pilots, remain positive about their extended mission. "It's great being back home after being up there," Williams shared with the AP, excitedly reflecting on her delayed reunion with her Labrador retrievers as "pure joy."
Wilmore humorously recounted his return to everyday life, noting that his wife wants to replace all the shrubs in their yard before summer. "So I've got to get my body ready to dig holes."
NASA is planning summer ground tests for Starliner's propulsion system, with ambitions for uncrewed test flights possible as early as 2026 before considering human missions. As the retirement of the ISS approaches within five years, the agency continues to support its dual-provider strategy with Boeing and SpaceX, even as Starliner's development challenges have exceeded $2 billion since 2016.
"We had a very unique perspective of being in the spacecraft – nobody else had that perspective," Williams remarked, highlighting their vital role in improving Starliner. In their upcoming meeting with Boeing, Wilmore emphasized that the focus is not on blame but on "making the path clearer going forward."
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
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