Boeing Starliner: Return at the end of July at the earliest
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will have to stay on the ISS even longer. NASA continues to check the Starliner spacecraft for faults.
(Image: NASA)
The Boeing Starliner must remain docked to the International Space Station (ISS) to be able to carry out tests on the spacecraft from the control station on the ground. According to statements made by NASA at a press conference on Wednesday, a return to Earth will not be possible until the end of July at the earliest.
The Starliner mission, which was launched on June 5, was originally only supposed to last eight days. However, engine problems forced a longer stay at the ISS. Five engines failed, four of which could be put back into operation. In addition, five helium leaks occurred, one of them before the launch. Engineers now assume that the leaks are related to the engine activities. In addition, the docking of the spacecraft to the ISS was shaky and only succeeded on the second attempt.
The two astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been on board the ISS ever since. Tests on the spacecraft repeatedly delayed their return. Although NASA has assured that the two astronauts can return at any time, they would rather not take any risks. According to NASA, the Starliner could undock and return to Earth at any time. Both astronauts confirmed on Wednesday that they could bring the spacecraft back "home" at any time.
"I have a really good feeling that the spacecraft will get us home without any problems", said Williams from the ISS.
Exact time of return uncertain
NASA and Boeing, the manufacturer of the Starliner, are currently testing a new Starliner unit at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to understand the engine issues that have occurred. However, the data collected is contradictory. "The temperatures we were able to achieve are not quite what we had hoped for based on the flight data," said Steve Stich, head of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The data will now be analyzed further to determine the next steps. Stich is optimistic that it will be possible to undock the Starliner from the ISS at the end of July. However, the right time still has to be found.
However, NASA is also feeling a certain amount of time pressure: the ISS crew is due to be replaced in mid-August. Crew-9 is then due to be launched into orbit on board SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft to dock with the ISS. The Starliners with the two astronauts, Wilmore and Williams should have left the ISS by then.
(olb)