Spacesuit Issue Threatens Starliner Earth Reentry

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been stranded in space for several weeks as the space agency works on a plan to bring them safely back to Earth. The Boeing Starliner, which transported them to low-Earth orbit in June, has been plagued by technical issues.

Now, a new challenge has arisen involving their spacesuits. If an emergency occurs on the International Space Station (ISS) within the next six weeks, Wilmore and Williams would not have the protection of their in-flight spacesuits during an evacuation. NASA revealed at a press conference on August 14 that the spacesuits they wore inside the Starliner are not compatible with other spacecraft. The agency is currently deciding whether the astronauts should return aboard the Starliner or switch to a SpaceX vehicle.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and other officials are scheduled to meet on Saturday morning to make a decision. Reports indicate that the Starliner might be sent back to Earth without any crew on board due to the ongoing technical difficulties.

If Starliner is deemed unfit for the return trip, NASA will have to activate their backup plan: using the SpaceX Dragon capsule from the Crew-8 mission. This spacecraft is already in space and is considered part of the contingency plan if the Starliner cannot safely carry the astronauts home. However, there is a complication with the SpaceX suits—no spares are currently available.

The earliest that new suits and seats could arrive at the ISS is September 24, when the Dragon from the Crew-9 mission is scheduled to launch. This capsule will have two empty seats and two extra spacesuits.

In the meantime, if NASA decides to bring the Starliner back to Earth uncrewed, and the Dragon hasn’t yet arrived, Wilmore and Williams would need to board the Dragon 8 capsule without compatible spacesuits in an emergency situation.

NASA’s final decision, expected by the end of this month, will determine whether the Starliner returns uncrewed or with the astronauts on board.

There are two types of spacesuits: extravehicular suits for repairs outside the station and intravehicular suits for launches, emergency aborts, or landing back on Earth. The astronauts were originally launched into space on June 5 with plans to stay at the ISS for only eight days, but the ongoing technical issues have extended their mission.