Starliner crew speak on seeing ship depart without them – what's next for the Boeing capsule

The Boeing Starliner spacecraft returned to Earth from the International Space Station without its crew. The decision was made after more than two months of reviewing data connected to a handful of helium leaks and issues with five of the Reaction Control System (RCS) that occurred during the flight to the orbiting outpost.

Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, who launched to the station on June 8, 2024, spoke with the press days after their spacecraft departed without them. The duo are set to return to Earth on the SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom in February. Hear their thoughts about the mission and what NASA leaders have to say about the path forward for the Starliner program.

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[_MaxHeadroom_]

If there's even the slightest shadow of a doubt that there might be a risk in putting humans on a spacecraft (outside of the ordinary risks that come with spaceflight) there shouldn't even be a tiny debate about not putting them on it. Spacecraft can be replaced, reputation can be redeemed, human lives can't.

[waynewilliams]

I give the commander credit for guiding a less than properly functioning craft, and docking it like he did!!

[JohanMsWorld]

I say fly one or two cargo flights before crew 1.

[Tinman_]

Who would have been the new commander of exploration 72 if Suni wasn't there? Anyone know for sure?

[gerryboriginal]

They need Draco thrusters then fix the helium system and it will be a good vehicle if in fact Draco thrusters need helium which I'm now thinking they dont?

[MathewWeaver]

What’s next for Boeing? Between all of their failures of late and now the 33, 000 union members that have gone on strike, I think bankruptcy is what’s up next😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[JeffreyBue_imtxsmoke]

What a CF of a program. Now that Starliner has made it back safely, Butch and Sunny are in more danger than before. I'm not surprised at all that Boeing didn't attend the outbrief meeting. I'm sure their engineers aren't very happy with Nasa and would not be surprised at all if Boeing decides to cancel the program.

[jeffdunnell]

They would have been roasted in that thing if they were aboard

[ghost]

I'll be more interested in what they say AFTER they retire, and NASA no longer has any way to punish them for speaking out.

[WernherVonBraun-rg]

Designing a mission patch shaped like a spacecraft it's not a good idea

[frgv]

I suppose one the main skills an astronaut must have is to follow to the letter BS official scripts when on public appearances 😜

[nicksavage]

WAS UNSURE THE SHIP WAS SAFE ENOUGH TO BRING THEM BACK, THEY BROUGHT IT DOWN TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS TO MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE BEFORE BEING MANNED AGAIN.
WASNT WORTH TAKING A CHANCE ON
LOSING THEM.

[backbasics]

Boeing is like a felon with a high probability of recidivism. It used to be good but it no longer is. Question is, do you keep giving it a second chance knowing you'll spend more and risk more.

[georgedoolittle]

*"they could have returned just fine but that would have saved money for the taxpayer too so we ordered them to stay to give money to a guy who prefers China to the USA every waking moment of every waking day now"* sound about right? Or "sounds about exactly right!" ? Meanwhile unsurprisingly Boeing is on strike because despite being the biggest defense contractor in the World the State of South Carolina guy preferred the entire pension plan go to his personal pay package...which the US Government gladly supports that as well when not massively shorting the US stock market in a stock market crash they are trying to engineer *AGAIN* purely from elected people in Washington DC... *"because this is all about doing work for America!"* 😊

[markzablotny]

Is Sunny going to clean up all the hair she is shedding in space station?

[EthnosSynergyEnergy]

It never even left earth to begin with

[nicksavage]

THEY COULD NOT
AFFORD ANOTHER
SCREW UP.
WHEN THEY LAUNCH
AGAIN, IT WILL BE SAFE.

[gmarie]

So the Boeing built capsule landed safely after all the breathless, ignorant hand wringing and Monday morning quarter backing. What will you people say if things go sideways during the crew return mission next spring? That's right, you will still blame Boeing and demand that Boeing shuts down.