As a result, crew mission 9 began in September with only two astronauts. Wilmore and Williams joined this crew to get a full six -month growth at a space station.
Stich said that NASA made this decision based on flight schedules to the space station and the needs of the orbit laboratory. It also allowed time to send spacex space for a pair of astronauts and produce liners that would make landing in water under parachutes secure.
“When we put it all, the best option was really the one we choose now,” said Stich. “And so we made crew 9, flying with two empty seats, flying the butch’s suit up, and also making sure that the seats were suitable for the anthropometry of butch and Suni to return them safely.”
Yes, SpaceX works with NASA to present the options, including the possibility of returning last autumn. However, these discussions took place as part of the program level and their leaders: Stich for the commercial crew and Dan Weigel for the International Space Station.
“Dana and I worked to develop a decision that worked for the commercial crew program and space station,” said Stich. “And then, Ken (Bowersox), we all had a process of reviewing flight readiness with you, and the NASA administrator also listened. So we had a recommendation of the agency and it was during the process we usually use. “
Bowersox confirmed that the decision was made at the program level.
“Our decisions usually work,” said Bowersox. “The programs work with what is the most sensible to them, programmed, technically. We weigh at the level of the headquarters, and in this case we thought that the plan we came up with makes sense. “
During the teleconference, Vice President Spacex, Bill Gerstenmaier, was directly asked what offer Musk was sent when he mentioned Biden administration. He did not give a substantive answer.
Musk claims that he has submitted an offer directly for senior officials in Biden administration. We have no way to verify this, but it seems clear that Biden administration has never given such an offer to lower -level officials in NASA, who made a decision for technical than political reasons.
“I think you know that we are working for NASA and we worked with NASA to do everything that we think was right,” answered SpaceX, Gerstenmaier. “You know, we were ready to support in any way, which they considered the right way to support. They came up with the option you heard today and we support this option. “
Did Trump say NASA to accelerate the return of Butch and Suni?
At the end of last year, crew mission 9 was to return in mid -February. However, there was a problem with the up-to-date Dragon Space Ship, which was to be used to flight crew 10 to orbit. As a result NASA announced On December 17, that the return of the crew was delayed by the end of March or early April.
Then, on February 11, NASA announced that the premiere of crew 10 was moved to March 12. It was a few weeks earlier than planned, and it was possible because NASA and SpaceX decided to replace the dragon capsules, using the vehicle – a sweeping dragon Resilience– for crew 10.
So is this change to accelerate the return of Wilmore and Williams politically powered?
Decision to exchange for Resilience Stich said at the end of January at the end of January, which allowed to postpone the release date. Asked if political pressure was a reason, Stich said it wasn’t. “It was really driven by many other factors and we looked at it before some of these statements were made by the president and Mr. Musk,” he said.
Bowersox added that it was correct, but also said that NASA appreciated the president’s interest in the space program.
“I can check if Steve talked about how we may need to juggle flights and change the capsules for a good month before discussion outside NASA, but the president’s interest certainly increased energy to the conversation,” said Bowersox.
This story originally appeared Ars Technica.