Boeing’s Starliner astronauts put ‘trust’ in decision makers before return to Earth
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams spoke with media for the first time since arriving at the International Space Station on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner last month as they await more tests on the vehicle that suffered thruster and leak issues after launch.
NASA and Boeing teams continue to re-create the issues on the ground before giving the duo the OK to leave the station and return to Earth.
“This is the world of test,” Wilmore said. “This is a tough business that we’re in. Human spaceflight is not easy in any regime, and there have been multiple issues with every spacecraft that has ever been designed.”
Boeing’s Starliner launches on historic 1st human spaceflight for NASA
The pair launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station back on June 5 arriving to the ISS a day later for what was originally planned to be about an eight-day stay on board. They have now been on board 34 days.
Starliner is making its first crewed flight as part of Boeing’s efforts to join SpaceX and its Crew Dragon spacecraft to help transport astronauts to and from the ISS as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
