NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have openly addressed the challenges of Boeing's troubled Starliner mission during a candid press conference, emphasizing collective accountability for the spacecraft's malfunctions that stranded them aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months. The pair, who returned to Earth in March via SpaceX's Crew Dragon, highlighted lessons learned and plans to refine Starliner's future.
"I could have asked some questions that might have turned the tide," said Wilmore, commander of the Starliner test flight, during the Monday briefing. He stressed shared responsibility across NASA and Boeing, adding, "We all are responsible. We own this." The astronauts will meet with Boeing engineers this week to address technical issues, including thruster failures and helium leaks that derailed their scheduled eight-day mission in June 2023.
Despite the setbacks, both veterans expressed confidence in Starliner's potential. "We're going to rectify all the issues," Wilmore stated, saying he would fly the spacecraft again "in a heartbeat." Williams echoed the resolve, noting their firsthand experience gives them a "unique perspective" to improve the system.
NASA plans ground tests for Starliner's propulsion system this summer, with potential uncrewed flights by 2026. The agency remains committed to its dual-provider strategy with Boeing and SpaceX as the ISS approaches retirement in 2030. Meanwhile, Williams reflected on her delayed reunion with her dogs, calling it "pure joy," while Wilmore joked about post-mission yardwork priorities. Their resilience underscores broader efforts to advance human spaceflight amid complex engineering challenges.
