NASA Astronauts Accept Blame for Starliner Mishap, Express Confidence in Future Missions

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams took part responsibility for the unsuccessful Boeing Starliner test flight. The two astronauts returned on a SpaceX spacecraft after spending over nine months at the International Space Station, a much longer period than initially planned. During a news conference, Wilmore candidly admitted that he could have asked more pertinent questions that might have averted the mishap. Both astronauts expressed their willingness to fly on the Starliner again, trusting in the corrections Boeing plans to implement. The Starliner capsule faced significant issues, like thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, necessitating a knowledge exchange session with Boeing leadership to address the problems. NASA might require another test flight before the Starliner can carry astronauts again. Notably, this incident highlights the competition between Boeing and SpaceX to provide reliable transportation to the ISS, a project with a ticking clock since the ISS is scheduled to be replaced by privately-operated laboratories within five years.