Officials may turn to Elon's SpaceX if Calamity Capsule proves too risky to return with crew
NASA has shared more details on how it hopes to get Boeing's stricken Starliner craft and its two test pilots safely back to Earth from the International Space Station, if the Calamity Capsule is deemed unsuitable for a crewed return.
In the event Starliner is deemed unsuitable for a crewed return – and this is still very much an 'if' at present – the plan would be to fly a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to the station as expected – the mission dubbed– but with only two astronauts rather than four, and whatever equipment is needed. Boeing's Wilmore and Williams would then become part of Crew-9 and return to Earth in the SpaceX pod in February 2025.
During the briefing, Stich described the discussions and debates as"vigorous" and said of the problems,"Some in the team don't see that level of risk as something we should entertain." Stich would not be drawn on which astronauts from Crew-9 would be removed to make way for Wilmore and Williams; after all, the primary plan is still to bring the crew back on Starliner.
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