Near-Disaster Averted: Starliner's Close Call with ISS
Last summer, the Starliner spacecraft experienced a critical failure while approaching the International Space Station, losing four thrusters. Astronaut Butch Wilmore took manual control, but the inability to maneuver the craft as needed triggered a near-catastrophic situation. The loss of thrusters violated mission rules, mandating a return to Earth; however, Wilmore believed returning was equally perilous. After a tense half-hour, ground control attempted a risky thruster reset, requiring Wilmore to relinquish manual control. Two thrusters miraculously restarted, and eventually, all but one were recovered, enabling autonomous flight and successful docking. While NASA and Boeing publicly expressed confidence in Starliner's safe return, Wilmore and his crewmate expressed serious concerns about the extreme risks involved in the return journey following this harrowing experience.
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