Starliner, more problems with Boeing’s spacecraft: NASA postpones the return of astronauts from the ISS “indefinitely”

The two astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams they arrived on the International Space Station on June 6. But they don’t know when they will be able to leave it. NASA has postponed «indefinitely» the return of Starliner, the Boeing spacecraft whose first maiden voyage with crew on board is becoming a kind of Odyssey.

The construction of Starliner was commissioned from Boeing by NASA in 2014. This maiden voyage came with years late due to technical problems to be resolved, malfunctions to be managed and more “earthly” difficulties of the company, which has been struggling to manage accidents that have affected its planes in recent years. The date set for the inauguration of the transportation of astronauts to the International Space Station was on May 7. In the end, it took three attempts to leave. The problem was a helium leak, which then became three during the trip. However, everything seemed to be under control and docking with the International Space Station took place, but was delayed by an hour. In the end helium losses to the system that pressurizes the Starliner propulsion system were five. And five of the control system’s 28 thrusters failed as the spacecraft approached its destination.

The mission initially involved Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams staying on the International Space Station a week. After docking and analyzing the problems, the return was planned for June 26th. But apparently more time is needed. On June 21, NASA published an update where Steve Stichhead of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program which commissioned the construction of Starliner, states: «Let data guide our decisions regarding the management of the small leaks of the helium system and the performance of the thrusters that we observed during the rendezvous and docking.” And the data says that, for now, we are not leaving. And at the moment no date has even been hypothesized, other than that it won’t be before July. «Boeing’s Starliner remains authorized to return to the ISS in the event of an emergency that requires the crew to leave orbit and return to Earth», it is specified, however. And therefore the spacecraft is still considered usable.

The work of the two astronauts was to test the spacecraft, but also the new spacesuits created by Boeing. At the moment, they have been integrated into the Expedition 71 crew, which is responsible for assisting operations on board the ISS. There is no rush to return to Earth, «there are many supplies in orbit», it is declared. And at the moment no other missions are planned either until mid-August. Starliner can remain, without problems, on the International Space Station, for 45 days. However, Stitch added, during a briefing the day before the release of the statement, that «so far we don’t see any scenarios where Starliner isn’t able to get Butch and Suni home. We’re just taking a little extra time to analyze the data and learn as much as we can while we have the module in service in orbit.”