The return of Boeing Starliner from the International Space Station with its inaugural crew of astronauts has been rescheduled to June 26, according to a Nasa official. Nasa astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams embarked on Starliner on June 5, reaching the ISS after a 24-hour journey marred by four helium leaks and five failures among its 28 maneuvering thrusters. This maiden crewed flight is a pivotal final test in a program that has faced significant delays and cost overruns, paving the way for Nasa's certification of Starliner for regular astronaut missions, complementing SpaceX's Crew Dragon in the US fleet. The postponement of Starliner's return is aimed at allowing the team additional time to scrutinize data and ensure readiness for the journey back, as explained by Steve Stich, Nasa's commercial crew program manager, during a press briefing. Nasa plans for a departure no sooner than June 26, with the possibility of further extensions at the ISS. Designed for future six-month missions, Starliner can remain docked at the ISS for up to 45 days during this mission. The return to Earth is anticipated to take approximately six hours, aiming for a landing site in the Utah or New Mexico deserts, contingent on weather conditions. This recent set of in-flight issues follows a history of challenges for Boeing's Starliner, including a failed 2019 uncrewed test plagued by numerous software glitches, design flaws, and management concerns that prevented docking with the ISS. A subsequent uncrewed test in 2022 achieved successful docking.
Text: Lara Palmer
18.06.2024
First Crew Mission Faces Further Delays Amid Helium Leaks and Thruster Failures