NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and agency leadership held a live news conference at the Johnson Space Center in Houston on Saturday, August 24th, to provide an update on NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test. During the conference, NASA announced that Boeing's Starliner will be returning to Earth uncrewed, without astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard.

The decision to conduct an uncrewed return is aimed at allowing NASA and Boeing to gather valuable testing data on the Starliner during its journey back home while minimizing any unnecessary risks for the crew. Since their arrival at the International Space Station in June, Wilmore and Williams have been actively involved in supporting various activities, including research, maintenance, and system testing and data analysis for the Starliner.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the agency's commitment to safety, stating that spaceflight, even under the safest and most routine conditions, carries inherent risks. However, he expressed gratitude to both the NASA and Boeing teams for their diligent work and detailed analysis in ensuring the safety of the mission.

Wilmore and Williams will now continue their work as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew until February 2025. They will be returning to Earth aboard a Dragon spacecraft as part of NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 mission. The Starliner, on the other hand, is expected to depart from the space station and autonomously make a safe re-entry and landing in early September.

The decision for an uncrewed return stems from certain challenges encountered during Starliner's approach to the space station on June 6. Specifically, NASA and Boeing identified helium leaks and experienced issues with the spacecraft's reaction control thrusters. In response, engineering teams have conducted extensive tests and analysis, including independent reviews with propulsion experts, to address these issues.

Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate, commended the NASA and Boeing teams for their thorough analysis, transparent discussions, and commitment to safety throughout the Crew Flight Test. He highlighted the valuable data gathered during Starliner's journey and docking operations, which will contribute towards improving the system for future missions.

As part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, it is necessary for spacecraft to complete a crewed test flight to ensure readiness for regular trips to and from the International Space Station. Following Starliner's return, NASA will review all mission-related data to determine any additional actions needed to meet certification requirements.

The SpaceX Crew-9 mission, initially planned with four crew members, is now scheduled to launch no earlier than Tuesday, September 24. NASA and SpaceX are currently working on reconfiguring seats on the Dragon spacecraft and adjusting the manifest to accommodate additional cargo and personal effects. The launch will take place at the newly assigned Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, providing operational flexibility for NASA's Europa Clipper mission.

NASA's Commercial Crew Program continues to collaborate with the American aerospace industry to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station. The station serves as a critical testbed for long-duration spaceflight challenges and supports research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. As commercial companies expand their capabilities in low Earth orbit, NASA's Artemis campaign progresses towards human exploration of Mars.

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Note: This news article has been written based on information provided by NASA's official announcement.