The Boeing Starliner recently made a safe return to Earth after its unmanned mission to the International Space Station in June. Due to technical issues, NASA deemed it unsafe to send two crew members back on the spacecraft, leading to the astronauts remaining in space until February when a SpaceX rocket will bring them home.
Former astronaut and International Space Station Commander Terry Virt praised the Starliner's landing, giving it a perfect 10 rating. Despite encountering problems with small thrusters, which were not manufactured by Boeing but a subcontractor, the spacecraft's reentry and landing were flawless.
While the incident may have caused reputational damage to Boeing, both Boeing and NASA have expressed their commitment to moving forward with the Starliner program. The key concern now is the extent of modifications needed to address the overheating thrusters, with the hope that any adjustments can be made swiftly to ensure the program's success.
As for the stranded astronauts, they are adapting to an extended stay on the space station, engaging in regular tasks and experiments. However, the prolonged mission poses challenges for their families, who had anticipated their return home earlier.
Looking ahead, NASA envisions a future where low Earth orbit missions are privatized, with multiple companies developing private space stations. Simultaneously, NASA plans to embark on ambitious missions to the moon through the Artemis program and eventually set sights on Mars exploration.
