Washington: According to a Business Insider report, NASA is concerned that once the Boeing Starliner spacecraft separates from the International Space Station, there is a risk that its thrusters could malfunction, causing the spacecraft to become uncontrollable and potentially collide with the station.
NASA sources, speaking on condition of anonymity to Ars Technica, indicated that there are plans to bring astronauts stranded at the space station back to Earth using the Boeing Starliner.
However, while NASA’s spokesperson did not fully reject the possibility of such a collision, they also declined to comment on the matter.
Business Insider reported that they have contacted the agency to inquire whether these concerns are being discussed internally, but no response has yet been provided.
In an interview with Business Insider, renowned Harvard astronomer Jonathan McDowell explained that such a failure is among the possibilities.
He noted that if you separate the Boeing Starliner from the International Space Station and use your thrusters beyond their specified power, there is a risk of colliding with the space station.