Two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, are presently marooned aboard the International Space Station (ISS) without a confirmed schedule for their return to Earth. Delays in their return have been caused by multiple technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program said, “We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process.”
He added, “We are letting the data drive our decision-making relative to managing the small helium system leaks and thruster performance we observed during rendezvous and docking.
Wilmore and Williams were sent into space from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 5 using the Starliner spacecraft, and they reached the ISS the next day. This mission is part of NASA‘s Commercial Crew Program, which aims to determine if Boeing’s spacecraft can be certified for regular missions to and from the ISS.
Nasa and Boeing have confirmed the safety of the crew on board the ISS, ensuring sufficient supplies and a flexible schedule until mid-August. Wilmore and Williams are currently fully integrated into the Expedition 71 team, supporting station operations and achieving goals crucial for NASA’s potential certification of Starliner.
Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Starliner program, stated, “The crew’s feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and they know that every bit of learning we do on the Crew Flight Test will improve and sharpen our experience for future crews.
Before its launch, the Starliner faced multiple challenges, including delays due to an oxygen valve issue on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) rocket and a minor helium leak in the service module.
Following its five-day docking at the ISS, NASA and Boeing noted five “minor” helium leaks on the spacecraft, ensuring that there was ample helium for the return journey.