...
By Monica Sager
Live News Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The problems with the Boeing spacecraft that have caused two NASA astronauts to remain on the International Space Station (ISS) two weeks longer than planned do not present an issue for their return mission, Boeing said on Tuesday, though there are still no updates on when that return mission will happen.
In a statement to Newsweek, a Boeing spokesperson said that the helium leaks and the majority of the thruster problems on the Starliner spacecraft have been deemed stable and "not a concern" for Starliner's return to Earth.
Only one of the capsule's 27 thrusters remains offline, Boeing said. Four of the five thrusters that had shut down are now operating normally.
Read More on News
Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Suni Williams, two veteran NASA astronauts, launched in the Starliner on June 5, as part of Boeing's first crewed mission to the ISS. The two were originally scheduled to be in space for eight days, but are now expected to remain on the space station for at least a month as engineers continue to work out the problems with Starliner.
Boeing said it will adjust the astronaut's return after a spacewalk scheduled for July 2. Reuters, citing NASA sources, reported Tuesday that the new targeted return date is July 6.
The issues are centered on Starliner's service module, which is the part of the craft that is needed to essentially reverse it out of its docked position with the ISS and navigate it to reenter the Earth's atmosphere.
"The reaction control thruster and helium leaks in the propulsion system are all located on the spacecraft's service module," Boeing said in the statement. "When the crew departs the ISS and deorbits, the service module is discarded and burns up in the atmosphere on reentry."
...
That means that engineers won't be able to assess the thruster and leak issues after Starliner is back on Earth, and is why Boeing says the mission is being prolonged to collect more data.
NASA said the spacecraft has been "performing well in orbit while docked to the space station." Starliner is designed to spend up to 45 days docked to the ISS without issue.
Boeing pushed back on media reports that Wilmore and Williams were "stranded" aboard the ISS, saying they could undock and fly home at any time if deemed necessary.
Newsweek reached out to NASA for additional updates but did not hear back immediately.
Boeing told Newsweek the Starliner test crew is "not pressed for time" to leave the ISS. There are "plenty of supplies in orbit" and the space station's schedule is also "relatively open" through mid-August.
Steve Stitch, NASA's Commerical Crew Program manager, said in a prior statement that the organization is "letting the data drive" decisions on timing and management.
...
The issues with Starliner are the latest engineering problems to hit Boeing, which is trying to join SpaceX as one of two commercial companies approved to ferry astronauts and cargo to the ISS.
The aerospace giant is also facing a torrent of criticism over manufacturing problems with its jetliners, which came to a head in January after a panel blew off an Alaska Air 737 midflight.
Newsweek reached out to SpaceX about its potential involvement in helping Wilmore and Williams return home should it be necessary but did not hear back immediately.
Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines