Boeing Starliner returning empty, NASA to use SpaceX to get astronauts

Boeing will return its capsule from the International Space Station without the NASA astronauts that Starliner delivered to orbit, the agency announced on Saturday.

The decision to bring Starliner back from the ISS without astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams marks a dramatic about-face for NASA and Boeing, as the organizations were previously adamant that the capsule was the primary choice for returning the crew.

But Starliner’s crew flight test, which had been seen as the final major milestone in the spacecraft’s development, faced problems — most notably with its propulsion system.

With Starliner coming back to Earth empty, NASA will now have its astronauts return via SpaceX, which is expected to launch its ninth regular mission to the International Space Station for the agency on Sept. 24.

Ultimately, Wilmore and Williams will stay at the ISS for about six more months before flying home in February.

“Boeing has worked very hard with NASA to get the necessary data to make this decision,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said during a press conference with top NASA officials in Houston on Saturday. “We want to further understand the root causes and understand the design improvements so that the Boeing Starliner will serve as an important part of our assured crew access to the ISS.”

He reiterated that test flights are “neither safe, nor routine,” and that the decision was the “result of a commitment to safety.”

NASA will now conduct another phase of its Flight Readiness Review to determine when to bring the empty Starliner home.

Boeing officials had been adamant in press briefings that Starliner was safe for the astronauts to fly home in the event of an emergency, despite delaying the return multiple times. NASA said there was a “technical disagreement” between the agency and Boeing, and said it evaluated risk differently than Boeing for returning its crew.

Meanwhile, SpaceX will bring two astronauts along on its Crew-9 vehicle — instead of four who were originally planned to go — to make room for Wilmore and Williams.

Boeing’s Starliner capsule “Calypso” has been at the International Space Station since early June on a mission that NASA extended indefinitely as the agency and company tried to identify why multiple of the spacecraft’s thrusters failed during docking.

Those thrusters, part of the spacecraft’s propulsion system, are key to Starliner’s safe return from the ISS. NASA cited the thrusters on Saturday as an ongoing problem.

Originally intended to last about nine days, the Starliner crew flight test was supposed to be a final box checked for Boeing and a key asset gained for NASA. The agency was hoping to fulfill its dream of having two competing companies — Boeing and SpaceX — flying alternating missions to the ISS.

Instead, the flight test is further setting back Boeing’s progress in NASA’s Commercial Crew program and, with over $1.5 billion in losses absorbed already, threatens the company’s future involvement with it.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.