Cape Canaveral, Florida – Two American astronauts are facing a delay in their return from the International Space Station (ISS) as engineers work to address issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
The Starliner, a collaboration between Boeing and NASA, reached the ISS on June 6 following a successful launch from Cape Canaveral. This mission marked the spacecraft’s first successful journey to space, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the ISS for what was expected to be a one-week stay.
However, complications with the Starliner have necessitated multiple postponements of the return trip back to Earth. Reports indicate that NASA is now aiming for a return date of July 6 as they continue to address the spacecraft’s technical challenges.
Among the issues encountered with the Starliner since its liftoff on June 5 are five helium leaks and failures in some of its thrusters. These problems have raised concerns about the spacecraft’s readiness for repeated trips to the ISS, a key element in NASA’s Artemis program for future moon exploration.
One of the main reasons for the postponement of the return trip is NASA’s need for additional time to investigate the propulsion system on the Starliner. The agency is focused on reviewing all available data to understand the issues before the spacecraft’s service module reenters the Earth’s atmosphere.
Boeing and NASA are closely monitoring the situation and plan to schedule the return trip once ongoing spacewalks are concluded. The astronauts currently at the ISS, Wilmore and Williams, are assisting with tasks and research at the space laboratory as they await their safe return to Earth.
Both organizations are committed to resolving the technical challenges with the Starliner to ensure a successful return journey for the astronauts. Despite the setbacks, NASA remains optimistic about the spacecraft’s ability to bring the astronauts back home safely.