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

NASA and Boeing plan to spend the subsequent few weeks conducting assessments on the bottom as a way 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 are usually not “stranded” on the Worldwide Area Station. “We’re not in a rush to return dwelling,” 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 may solely keep docked on the ISS for a most of 45 days as a consequence of limitations with its batteries, however Stich stated through the convention that these batteries are being recharged by the house station, so this may be prolonged. “I wish to make it very clear that Butch and Suni are usually not stranded in house,” Stich stated. “Our plan is to proceed to return them on Starliner and return them dwelling on the proper time.”

Starliner is performing properly whereas docked, and the craft may nonetheless be used as a lifeboat to carry the astronauts dwelling if obligatory 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 just isn’t in any hazard, and there’s no elevated danger after we determine to carry Suni and Butch again to Earth.”