NASA held a press conference today to provide updates on the Boeing Crew Flight Test mission, which has been ongoing for over two months. The mission, which launched on July 21, was intended to be a test flight for the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, but has faced numerous challenges and delays.
Image Credit: NASA
Ken Bowersox, Associate Administrator for NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate, began the conference by stating that there were no major announcements to be made, but that the agency wanted to provide an update on the mission's status. He noted that the technical experts are still analyzing data and feedback from new propulsion system experts, and that the agency is preparing for decision points ahead.
Russ Deo, Chief of NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, discussed the agency's safety protocols and the use of the technical authority governance model to ensure safety is incorporated into decision-making. He emphasized that safety is a core value of NASA and that the agency is taking the time to ensure that the crew is not put at a higher risk than necessary.
Joe Acaba, Chief of the Crew Office, provided an update on the crew's status, noting that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are doing well and are contributing to scientific research on the International Space Station. He emphasized that the mission is a test flight and that the agency is taking the time to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to ensure the crew's safety. He added that Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched to the ISS prepared for all contingencies. A potential eight-month increment on the station is well within the safety range for long-duration stays.
The question-and-answer session that followed revealed that the agency is still considering whether to use the Starliner spacecraft to return the crew to Earth, or to use a SpaceX Crew Dragon instead. Ken Bowersox noted that the agency is getting new data and feedback, and that the decision will be made based on what is best for the crew's safety.
Other topics discussed during the question-and-answer session included the classification of the mission as a mishap, the timing of the decision-making process, and the current calculation for the loss of crew probability.
Overall, the press conference provided an update on the status of the Boeing Crew Flight Test mission and highlighted the agency's commitment to safety and careful decision-making. So as of now, there are no confirmed reports as to when the two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will be coming back home safely, as their lives hang in the balance, while experts in NASA and Boeing try to resolve the technical issues.
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