On June 5, 2024, Butch Wilmore (61) and Suni Williams (59) were flown to the ISS by Boeing's Starliner for an eight-day mission. But fate had other plans. Technical problems with the Starliner's propulsion system turned the mission into a veritable odyssey. Instead of returning to Earth in eight days, our astronauts will have to wait until February 2025 - eight months!
Faced with this situation, NASA had no choice but to call on SpaceX, Elon Musk's company, to bring the astronauts home. Another victory for SpaceX, which has already been acting as America's space cab for the past four years.
This latest failure is a major blow for Boeing, NASA's long-standing partner. After years of development and delays, the crewed Starliner flight was to be the last test before regular operations. But anomalies detected in the Attitude Control System (RCS) engines led NASA to decide to return the spacecraft on empty during September.
For Boeing, the image is not flattering. Already in trouble with its commercial aircraft, the American company now sees its space ambitions compromised. With the arrival of the new CEO, Robert Ortberg, the onerous task of restoring confidence rests on his shoulders. Will he be able to turn things around? Only time will tell, but for now, SpaceX seems to be one step ahead.