Astronauts remain in space as Boeing’s Starliner mission exceeds 45-day window at ISS

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Two astronauts aboard Boeing’s Starliner remain stuck in space as the mission exceeded its 45-day battery window being docked at the International Space Station.

The capsule, which arrived at the space station on June 6, was initially approved to stay for up to 45 days but with no return date set, the astronauts’ stay has been “extended indefinitely,” NBC affiliate WESH reported.

NASA and Boeing said the capsule’s batteries are performing well despite the extended stay. Tuesday marked 47 days since they’ve been at the ISS.

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, the two astronauts aboard the Starliner, said they were confident they’d return home safely despite the delay.

“I feel confident that if we had to, if there was a problem with the International Space Station, we could get in our spacecraft, and we could undock, talk to our team, and figure out the best way to come home,” Williams said in a press conference last week.

Although Sunday was the end of the 45-day stay the mission was approved for, NASA and Boeing reassured it was safe to stay in the capsule at the ISS past the mission’s initial window.

“Would they like this to be behind them, I’m absolutely sure of that. But I would share with you, I haven’t heard anybody that’s overly concerned if it took another week or 10 days or so,” Ray Lugo, a Space Expert who is the CEO of the Center of Advancement of Science in Space Inc., told WESH.

However, Starliner was plagued with issues before it even launched. The spacecraft’s launch was scrubbed twice , including one right before liftoff. Helium leaks were also reported.

According to WESH, Boeing and NASA’s engineers have been running tests on thrusters to estimate what went wrong with the Starliner’s flight to the space station. Officials added that Williams and Wilmore would be safe to return home at any time if needed.

Both agencies did not indicate when the astronauts will return to Earth but are hopeful for a return in the coming weeks. There also has been no word on whether they plan to use another spacecraft to get them home.

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