Starliner’s Extended Orbit: A Recap of an Unexpected Space Journey

The initial plan was a quick trip. A brief visit to the International Space Station (ISS) in June, intended to validate Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for future crewed missions. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were at the helm, ready to put the Starliner through its paces during a flight test. However, that short jaunt turned into an extensive, and largely unplanned, orbital stay.

For nearly ten months, the saga of the Starliner mission has held public attention. The words "stuck" and "stranded" have often been used to describe the astronauts’ predicament, a perception that NASA and the crew themselves have actively worked to dispel. They’ve emphasized their extensive training and preparedness to remain at the space station longer than initially scheduled, highlighting their adaptability and the redundancies built into space programs.

Regardless of the chosen descriptor, the reality remains: Williams and Wilmore have been in orbit for a significant duration. As of Monday, they had logged 277 consecutive days in space. To put that into perspective, only five NASA astronauts in history have spent more consecutive days orbiting Earth. Their original mission timeline called for a mere 10 days at the ISS.

The Starliner, developed by Boeing, aims to provide NASA with an alternative to SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft for transporting astronauts to and from the ISS. This competition is crucial for ensuring redundancy and cost-effectiveness in space travel.

Since the Starliner’s arrival at the ISS, a chain of events unfolded that led to the extended mission. Helium leaks and propulsion system issues were identified, effectively grounding the spacecraft and preventing its immediate return.

Williams and Wilmore, seasoned astronauts, had participated in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY in January, patiently answering questions and providing insights into their unique situation. Now, their return to Earth is finally on the horizon. Let’s revisit some of the key moments that defined the Starliner mission.

The Launch and Initial Issues

Wilmore and Williams launched on June 5, aboard the Starliner, atop an Atlas V rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch was highly anticipated, but it followed a series of delays, spanning approximately a month, due to technical challenges with the spacecraft, including a valve issue in the rocket’s upper stage.

The astronauts successfully reached the International Space Station on June 6, a day after launch. The plan was straightforward: spend about 10 days conducting tests and then return home.

However, once docked at the ISS, engineers uncovered a series of helium leaks and problems with the Starliner’s propulsion system. These issues significantly hindered the spacecraft’s ability to safely return to Earth, casting doubt on the immediate future of the mission.

The fate of Williams and Wilmore remained uncertain for months as NASA and Boeing collaborated to determine the best course of action. Extensive analysis and simulations were conducted to assess the risks associated with various return scenarios.

A Change in Plans and the Empty Starliner’s Return

On August 24, NASA announced a significant decision: the Starliner was deemed unsafe to carry a crew back to Earth at that time. The spacecraft would undock from the ISS and return to Earth without astronauts. This decision was a setback for Boeing’s aspirations to have the Starliner certified for routine space travel. It also necessitated finding an alternative means for Williams and Wilmore to return home.

The decision to send the Starliner back unmanned freed up a docking port at the ISS. This allowed for the possibility of using another spacecraft, already scheduled to visit the station, to transport the astronauts back to Earth.

Under NASA’s revised plan, a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, scheduled for a mission to the ISS in the following month, was selected to bring Williams and Wilmore back home. This highlighted the importance of having multiple spacecraft capable of crew transport to the ISS.

On September 6, the empty Boeing Starliner undocked from the ISS and began its journey back to Earth. It successfully completed a parachute-assisted landing in the New Mexico desert.

Despite the successful landing, the Starliner required significant work to prepare it for routine spaceflight. This included extensive ground tests and potential modifications to address the propulsion system issues. As of March, the Starliner’s future as a second operational vehicle for NASA to transport crews and cargo to the space station remained uncertain.

Integration with Crew-9 and Expedition 72

On September 28, a SpaceX mission known as Crew-9 launched towards the International Space Station. While routine six-month rotation missions to the ISS have become commonplace for both SpaceX and NASA, this particular mission carried added significance.

Instead of a full complement of four spacefarers, the Crew-9 Dragon transported only two astronauts: NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The spacecraft had two extra seats specifically for Williams and Wilmore.

Rather than immediately returning, the Starliner crew members were integrated into the Crew-9 mission. Williams even assumed the role of commander of Expedition 72, overseeing all the astronauts living and working at the space station.

The revised plan called for Crew-9 to return in February, carrying Williams and Wilmore, once Hague and Gorbunov had completed their mission.

Voting from Space and Delays with Crew-10

NASA has established procedures to enable astronauts to vote in U.S. elections from space. Both Wilmore and Williams were able to cast their ballots for president in November. "It’s a very important role that we all play as citizens, to be included in those elections, and NASA makes it very easy for us to do that," Wilmore told reporters during a news conference from the space station in September.

Before Crew-9, which now includes Wilmore and Williams, can return to Earth, the Crew-10 mission must first arrive at the space station. The launch date for Crew-10, initially scheduled for February, has been subject to changes.

NASA initially announced a delay to late March to allow SpaceX more time to prepare a new Dragon capsule for launch. However, the launch date was subsequently moved forward to mid-March after NASA decided to use a previously flown Dragon capsule named Endurance.

As of Monday, Crew-10 was scheduled to launch on Wednesday night aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center. The Crew-10 team is expected to arrive at the ISS the following day, followed by a few days of handover activities before Crew-9 can begin their journey back to Earth.

Politicization and Setting the Record Straight

Since President Donald Trump took office, the Starliner mission has faced a degree of politicization, particularly concerning the perception that the astronauts were "abandoned" or "stuck" in space.

Both NASA and the astronauts have consistently refuted this notion, including during a February appearance on CNN with Anderson Cooper. They’ve emphasized that the extended mission was a planned contingency and that they were fully supported and equipped to handle the situation.

Trump has also sought to claim credit for their impending return, asserting that he authorized Musk to retrieve the astronauts, despite the plan being in place before he was elected.

A Record-Breaking Spacewalk

Despite the unexpected duration of the mission, it has presented unique opportunities. Williams was able to set a record on January 30 during her ninth spacewalk. After she and Wilmore spent over six hours outside the space station, Williams now has a cumulative 62 hours and 6 minutes in the vacuum of space – the most of any woman in the world. Only three other individuals have spent more cumulative time on spacewalks than Williams.

The Starliner mission, while initially intended as a brief test flight, has evolved into a remarkable demonstration of human adaptability, resilience, and the complexities of space exploration. As Williams and Wilmore prepare to return to Earth, their story serves as a reminder of the challenges and triumphs inherent in pushing the boundaries of human achievement.