NASA reveals new plan for malfunctioning Starliner spacecraft

NASA has announced a new plan for the Boeing Starliner spacecraft after two astronauts were left in space for nine months due to malfunctions. The astronauts, Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, were supposed to spend only eight days on the International Space Station (ISS) but faced unexpected challenges. During their mission, the Starliner experienced helium leaks and issues with its thrusters. As a result, NASA decided the astronauts would remain on the ISS until a later rescue mission. Former astronaut Chris Hadfield noted that the crew was never truly stranded, as they could have been brought back if necessary. Wilmore and Williams returned to Earth safely in a SpaceX capsule and are now undergoing rehabilitation to readjust to gravity. Meanwhile, NASA is focused on fixing the issues with the Starliner. Steve Stich, the manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, stated that the agency is carefully reviewing the spacecraft. NASA aims to replace faulty seals and improve the thruster systems before conducting further tests. Stich emphasized the importance of having multiple crew transportation systems to ensure safety in case of failures. He expressed optimism that the Starliner could still be viable for future missions, provided they can address the problems discovered during its first manned flight.