June 25th 2024.
Two brave astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were supposed to return back home earlier this month, are still orbiting in space. This is due to some technical difficulties that have arisen on their spacecraft, which are being addressed by NASA and Boeing as we speak. These problems include a malfunctioning thruster and a few leaks of the precious gas, helium.
The officials have had to postpone the departure date of the spacecraft multiple times, as they work on resolving the issues. This spacecraft had successfully launched Wilmore and Williams to the International Space Station on June 5, but encountered some challenges on the way. One of the issues was that five thrusters suddenly stopped functioning during the flight, causing concern for the safety of the astronauts. There were also some helium leaks that needed to be taken care of.
Due to these complications, a new return date has not yet been announced. However, NASA has hinted that the return of Starliner's inaugural crew will most likely not happen until July. In the meantime, the spacecraft will remain docked at the International Space Station, where it has been since its launch.
In a recent blog post, NASA explained that they are taking their time in reviewing the data from the propulsion system before making any decisions. Steve Stich, the Commercial Crew Program manager at NASA, stated that they are following their standard mission management team process to ensure the safety of the crew. He also mentioned that there have been some minor leaks in the helium system and they are working on addressing them, along with monitoring the performance of the thrusters.
According to Stich, Starliner can remain docked at the space station for up to 45 days if needed. This change in schedule also accommodates two upcoming spacewalks that the astronauts have planned to conduct outside the space station. The second of these spacewalks is scheduled for July 2, indicating that Starliner's return will not take place before then.
Unfortunately, one of the spacewalks that was supposed to take place overnight had to be cancelled due to water leakage in a space-suit. However, NASA has assured that they are not considering alternative routes back to Earth for the astronauts. In case of any emergency at the space station, the Starliner spacecraft is cleared for an emergency return.
Despite the ongoing delays, Mark Nappi, the vice president and program manager of the Commercial Crew Program for Boeing, has stated that the feedback from Wilmore and Williams about the Starliner spacecraft has been overwhelmingly positive. He also mentioned that they are constantly learning and improving from this experience, which will benefit future crews.
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