NASA and Boeing say Starliner astronauts ‘are usually not stranded,’ however can 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 with the intention 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,” mentioned 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 strategy 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 guage the problems ever since. On Friday, representatives for the 2 mentioned 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 can 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 attributable to limitations with its batteries, however Stich mentioned through the convention that these batteries are being recharged by the area station, so this may be prolonged. “I need to make it very clear that Butch and Suni are usually not stranded in area,” Stich mentioned. “Our plan is to proceed to return them on Starliner and return them dwelling on the proper time.”

Starliner is performing nicely whereas docked, and the craft may nonetheless be used as a lifeboat to convey the astronauts dwelling if crucial within the case of an emergency, the officers mentioned. 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 threat after we resolve to convey Suni and Butch again to Earth.”