Washington: NASA disclosed on Wednesday that there was notable “tension” in discussions with Boeing executives concerning the rescue of two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS). However, NASA denied reports of heated shouting matches during these meetings.
Due to safety concerns with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which experienced thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, NASA has decided to enlist SpaceX for the rescue mission. The Starliner capsule, intended to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back after a week, is now expected to return them in February 2025 via the SpaceX Crew-9 mission.
While Boeing had publicly expressed confidence in their spacecraft, their absence from recent NASA press briefings led to speculation about a rift between the companies. Sources had suggested that meetings between NASA and Boeing often involved intense arguments.
Steve Stich, program manager for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, addressed these claims, acknowledging that high-stakes meetings often involve tension. “There is some tension in the room during such critical discussions,” Stich explained, although he refuted the notion of yelling.
Stich added that Boeing had confidence in their model predicting thruster degradation but NASA’s team was uncomfortable with the uncertainty in the modeling. “It was a tense technical discussion where both sides listened intently to all the data,” he said.
Despite their extended stay on the ISS, astronauts Wilmore and Williams are in good spirits and remain in contact with their families. They now have properly fitting clothes, thanks to a recent resupply mission, alleviating their initial need for borrowed attire.
The Starliner is scheduled to undock from the ISS on Friday evening US Eastern Time, followed by a parachute and airbag-assisted landing in the western United States early Saturday morning. To avoid collision risks, NASA decided not to have the Starliner fly close to the station for exterior views, as it would have done with a crew onboard.
The spacecraft will execute a “breakout burn” after undocking to ensure a safe distance from the ISS before proceeding on its journey back to Earth.