NASA and Boeing engineers are addressing several problems with the Starliner spacecraft, with a critical 45-day docking window shrinking rapidly. As of Friday, NASA extended the troubleshooting period a third time, leaving the astronauts on the ISS indefinitely until July.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who traveled to the ISS on Boeing’s Starliner, are stuck in space due to multiple spacecraft issues. Their return, originally set for June 13, has been delayed multiple times, now no sooner than June 26.
Boeing’s Starliner had a successful crewed launch on June 5 from Cape Canaveral. However, during the 25-hour journey, engineers found five helium leaks in the thruster system. To resolve these issues, NASA extended the astronauts’ stay on the ISS by at least three weeks.
Mark Nappi, Boeing’s Starliner program manager, acknowledged the helium system’s underperformance, stating it needs further investigation. The Starliner, currently docked to the ISS’s Harmony module, is under assessment for these leaks and thruster failures.
While engineers have partially resolved some issues, the exact causes remain unclear. Due to limited fuel on the Harmony module, Starliner’s docking time is capped at 45 days, intensifying the urgency for a safe return.
Boeing’s Starliner, part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, has faced numerous setbacks, including a 2019 test flight failure and fuel valve issues. This mission marks Boeing’s third attempt to send a crew to the ISS, following problems with the Atlas V rocket and a ground launch sequencer glitch.
