# NASA's Latest Update on Stranded Astronauts: A Tough Decision
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Chapter 1: The Situation Aboard the ISS
The two NASA astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, will not be returning to Earth as planned. During a press briefing at Kennedy Space Center on August 24, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson revealed that the agency has decided against bringing Wilmore and Williams back using their malfunctioning Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which has faced thruster issues since its launch on June 5. Instead, the Starliner will return uncrewed, while Wilmore and Williams will ride back home on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, set to launch to the ISS in September for a five-month mission, with a return scheduled for February. This change transforms what was meant to be an eight-day stay on the ISS into an extended eight-month ordeal for the astronauts.
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Section 1.1: The Decision-Making Process
Nelson emphasized that “NASA has worked diligently with Boeing to arrive at this conclusion.” This choice stems from a commitment to safety, as outlined in what NASA refers to as a flight readiness review (FRR). During a news conference on August 14, agency officials explained that FRRs typically occur prior to launches, serving as a final check on whether the mission can proceed.
Ken Bowersox, a former astronaut and current associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, explained, “We gather representatives from all relevant centers, along with technical experts and safety officers. We assess the mission status, discuss specific issues, and then we take a poll to determine if everyone believes we are prepared to proceed.”
On one unfortunate occasion, a panel's decision during an FRR led to tragedy. The FRR for the final mission of the space shuttle Challenger took place on January 15, 1986, and the shuttle was cleared for launch. However, just 13 days later, the shuttle exploded due to a fuel tank rupture, resulting in the loss of all seven crew members merely 73 seconds after liftoff. This disaster, alongside the Columbia shuttle breakup on February 1, 2003, has made NASA much more cautious in its operations.
Russ DeLoach, chief of NASA safety and mission assurance, noted, “At that time, we lacked the governance framework that exists today, where technical authorities play a critical role in decision-making. Program managers then had near-complete authority, and if there were concerns about a path being taken, there wasn't a strong enough authority to intervene.”
Today, this additional oversight is provided through FRRs that can occur mid-mission—often referred to as mission risk acceptance forums. Regardless of the terminology, these panels aim to apply the scrutiny of an FRR at any point from a crew's departure to their return. Recently, NASA faced pressure to quickly determine the fate of the troubled Starliner, as its batteries have a finite lifespan. If the spacecraft was not considered safe to transport the crew home, it would have to return empty soon.
The FRR that led to the decision to avoid using the Boeing Starliner for Wilmore and Williams took place on August 23, with Nelson closely involved. If there are differing opinions during the review, the decision first goes to Jim Free, NASA's associate administrator. Following that, Nelson has the authority to intervene, which he clearly did.
Chapter 2: The Future of Space Travel
Section 2.1: The Role of SpaceX in Crew Transport
With the decision made to utilize SpaceX's Crew Dragon for the astronauts' return, the focus shifts to the reliability and safety of commercial partnerships in space exploration. This incident highlights the importance of having multiple options for crew transport to ensure the safety of astronauts in the future.
Subsection 2.1.1: Ensuring Safety in Space Missions
Section 2.2: Lessons Learned from the Past
As NASA navigates these challenges, the lessons learned from previous tragedies continue to inform decision-making processes and emphasize the importance of safety in all aspects of space missions.