Boeing: NASA Astronaut Admits Partial Blame for Extended Space Stay Due to Boeing Mission Issues

The commanding officer of the troubled Boeing Starliner spacecraft that encountered technical issues while shuttling two astronauts to space last June, took responsibility for the issues, while also pointing the blame at everyone else on the mission. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams answered questions from reporters in Texas on Monday about various aspects of their extended mission. Wilmore and Williams returned to Earth after being stuck in space since June, due to engineers discovering helium leaks and issues involving thrusters shortly after Boeing's CST-100 Starliner docked with the International Space Station. Wilmore was asked who is responsible for everything that happened on the test flight, which ultimately left them in space for nine months. In this photo provided by NASA, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is docked to the Harmony module of the International Space Station on July 3, 2024, seen from a window on the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft docked to an adjacent port. (NASA via AP) "With that, I'd get on in a heartbeat," he said. Williams agreed with Wilmore, saying the Starliner spacecraft is really capable. "There were a couple of things that need to be fixed, like Butch mentioned, and folks are actively working on that," she said. "But it's...a great spacecraft, and it has a lot of capabilities that other spacecraft don't have, and to see that thing successful and to be part of that program is an honor." Wilmore and Williams splashed down in the Gulf of America on March 18, after Elon Musk's SpaceX Dragon spacecraft arrived at the ISS just days before.