NASA and Boeing say Starliner astronauts ‘aren’t stranded,’ however might be on the ISS for just a few extra weeks

NASA and Boeing plan to spend the following few weeks conducting assessments on the bottom to be able to higher perceive points with the Starliner spacecraft’s thrusters earlier than giving its crew the go-ahead to fly again to Earth. However, officers insisted in a Friday afternoon, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aren’t “stranded” on the Worldwide House Station. “We’re not in a rush to return house,” stated Steve Stich, supervisor of NASA’s Business Crew Program.

Starliner has been docked with the ISS since June 6 for what was meant to be a 10-day flight take a look at all in all. Throughout its method of the orbiting lab, nevertheless, the craft experienced problems with 5 of its thrusters, and a identified helium leak appeared to worsen. NASA and Boeing have been working collectively to judge the problems ever since. On Friday, representatives for the 2 stated they aren’t but setting a date for the return flight, and can as a substitute wait till the bottom assessments have been accomplished and all analyses run. The primary thruster assessments, which might be performed on the White Sands Missile Vary in New Mexico, are anticipated to start as quickly as Tuesday.

It was initially said that Starliner might solely keep docked on the ISS for a most of 45 days resulting from limitations with its batteries, however Stich stated throughout the convention that these batteries are being recharged by the area station, so this may be prolonged. “I wish to make it very clear that Butch and Suni aren’t stranded in area,” Stich stated. “Our plan is to proceed to return them on Starliner and return them house on the proper time.”

Starliner is performing nicely whereas docked, and the craft might nonetheless be used as a lifeboat to convey the astronauts house if vital within the case of an emergency, the officers stated. Mark Nappi, VP and program supervisor of Boeing’s Business Crew Program, reiterated Stich’s feedback, saying, “We’re not caught on the ISS, the crew isn’t in any hazard, and there’s no elevated threat once we determine to convey Suni and Butch again to Earth.”