NASA Astronauts Remain 'Stuck' In Space After 52 Days As Boeing Starliner Issues Persist

NASA and Boeing confirmed another extension to the Starliner crew flight test. There’s no specific return date set for the two astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The delay comes as engineers continue to assess technical issues with the spacecraft’s propulsion system. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who arrived at the ISS on June 6, were initially scheduled for a nine-day mission.

NASA’s Extended Mission And Technical Challenges

The Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission has faced several technical problems, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions. These issues have forced NASA and Boeing to keep the astronauts in orbit while engineers work to resolve them. During a press conference on July 10, Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, stated, “We’re taking our time on the ground to go through all the data before we decide on the return opportunity.”

Engineers persist in testing and analyzing mission data to better understand the technological challenges. A spare thruster was also recently tested in New Mexico. Additionally, more examinations will gain insights into the malfunctions. Fox News reports that Mark Nappi, a Boeing representative, revealed that degraded seals appear to be responsible for the helium leaks and thruster problems. However, he emphasized that more analysis is needed to confirm this assessment.

Despite the challenges, both NASA and the astronauts have expressed confidence in Starliner’s overall performance. Butch Wilmore praised the capsule’s on-orbit capabilities during operational checks, stating, “The spacecraft performed unbelievably well.”

Potential Return Scenarios And Contingency Plans

While NASA and Boeing work to bring Wilmore and Williams back aboard Starliner, they are also considering backup options. Steve Stich acknowledged that alternative plans are under review, including the possibility of using SpaceX’s Dragon capsule to return the astronauts to Earth. The Starliner’s latest possible return date could be mid-August. The timeline coincides with the handover between SpaceX’s Crew-8 and Crew-9 missions to the ISS.