Astronauts will remain on the International Space Station for at least another week as NASA and Boeing address issues with the Starliner spacecraft. Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who arrived on the ISS on June 6 following a successful Boeing Starliner launch, were initially expected to stay only a week. However, NASA and Boeing officials announced in a Tuesday press conference that they will not return to Earth before June 26.
Mechanical Problems with Starliner
The Boeing Starliner is experiencing multiple mechanical problems, including issues with five thrusters and four helium leaks. Another helium leak has since emerged. Crews are working to ensure the spacecraft’s safety before the astronauts can be brought back home.
This delay follows an initial return date set for June 22 by NASA and Boeing. “We want to give our teams a little bit more time to look at the data, do some analysis, and make sure we’re really ready to come home,” said Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager. Stich expressed confidence in the spacecraft’s ability to bring the astronauts back safely. The plan is to land in the White Sands area of New Mexico next week. If the crew misses the June 26 landing, the next prime opportunity will be on July 2.
Crew’s Positive Outlook
Dana Weigel, manager of NASA’s International Space Station Program, reported that the crew is in good spirits. “They love Starliner, they love being in the vehicle, they love being on ISS,” Weigel said. “I think, you know, if you ask Butch and Suni, they might want to stay for a long period of time.”
Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager for Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program, noted that the crew is making the most of the extended stay. “We don’t see it as a delay,” Nappi said. “We see it as an opportunity and privilege to stay on station and do more work.”
Starliner’s Journey and Future Prospects
The CST-100 Starliner, carrying Williams and Wilmore, launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 5 and docked with the ISS after a 24-hour flight. Boeing hopes Starliner will eventually compete with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, which has been NASA’s primary vehicle for sending crew members to the ISS from the US since 2020.
This mission comes after several challenges for Boeing’s Starliner. In 2019, an unmanned test flight failed due to software glitches, design problems, and management issues. Three years later, a repeat unmanned test successfully docked with the ISS.
