WhyCosmo

  NASA to Announce Safety Verdict for Boeing's Starliner Capsule Amid Concerns NASA is gearing up to make a critical decision this Saturday on whether Boeing's new Starliner capsule is safe enough to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams back from space. The astronauts have been stationed on the International Space Station (ISS) since June, waiting for a safe return amid a series of technical malfunctions aboard the Starliner. Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft docked to the Harmony module of the International Space Station on the company’s Orbital Flight Test-2 mission. Credit: NASA The capsule, part of Boeing's first-ever astronaut mission, experienced thruster failures and helium leaks, prompting NASA to reconsider its return plans. A decision, expected to be announced after a high-level meeting chaired by NASA's top officials, could either greenlight Starliner for return or leave the task to SpaceX, delaying the astronauts' return until February 202...

 What was meant to be a short journey to the International Space Station (ISS) might turn into an eight-month adventure for NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams . The reason? Uncertainty surrounding Boeing's new Starliner capsule. This photo provided by NASA shows Boeing's Starliner spacecraft which launched NASA officials have expressed concerns over the safety of the Starliner, and the space agency is currently split on the potential risks. The situation has increased the chances that the astronauts may have to switch to a SpaceX flight to return home. This unexpected twist comes as NASA continues to analyze the thruster failures that Starliner experienced before docking. With time running out, NASA is seriously considering SpaceX as a backup option for the astronauts' return to Earth. Ken Bowersox, NASA's space operations mission chief, said, "At this point, we could take either path," highlighting the tough decision NASA faces. In this imag...