Washington: NASA has delayed the return of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station (ISS) with its first crew onboard to address ongoing technical concerns, the agency announced on Friday.
Originally scheduled for June 26, the return date for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams has been put on hold as NASA assesses issues encountered during the mission. This decision follows adjustments from the initial target date of June 14.
“Mission managers are evaluating future return opportunities following the station’s two planned spacewalks on June 24 and July 2,” stated NASA in a release.
“We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process,” said Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager. Stich also noted that the Starliner spacecraft has been performing well while docked at the ISS and that the extended review period will provide valuable insights for future missions.
Boeing’s Starliner, undergoing its crewed test mission after two previous uncrewed flights, has faced challenges including multiple thruster failures, helium gas leaks, and issues with a propellant valve.
The delays and additional testing required have raised uncertainties about when the crew will return and highlighted broader challenges in the Starliner program. Boeing has reportedly exceeded its initial $4.5 billion development contract with NASA by $1.5 billion due to these setbacks.
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NASA aims for Starliner to join SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in ferrying astronauts to the ISS, but the program has encountered persistent software glitches, design flaws, and other operational hurdles.
Despite encountering thruster issues during its approach to the ISS, Boeing was able to resolve them through software updates and procedural adjustments, enabling a successful docking on June 6. Now, as preparations for the spacecraft’s return continue, NASA and Boeing are focused on understanding the root causes of the technical issues before proceeding with Starliner’s next phases.
