NASA and Boeing say Starliner astronauts ‘are usually not stranded,’ however might be on the ISS for a number of extra weeks

NASA and Boeing plan to spend the following few weeks conducting assessments on the bottom with a view to higher perceive points with the Starliner spacecraft’s thrusters earlier than giving its crew the go-ahead to fly again to Earth. However, officers insisted in a Friday afternoon, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are usually not “stranded” on the Worldwide House Station. “We’re not in a rush to come back house,” mentioned Steve Stich, supervisor of NASA’s Industrial Crew Program.

Starliner has been docked with the ISS since June 6 for what was meant to be a 10-day flight take a look at all in all. Throughout its strategy of the orbiting lab, nonetheless, the craft skilled issues with 5 of its thrusters, and a identified helium leak appeared to worsen. NASA and Boeing have been working collectively to judge the problems ever since. On Friday, representatives for the 2 mentioned they aren’t but setting a date for the return flight, and can as a substitute wait till the bottom assessments have been accomplished and all analyses run. The primary thruster assessments, which might be performed on the White Sands Missile Vary in New Mexico, are anticipated to start as quickly as Tuesday.

It was initially said that Starliner might solely keep docked on the ISS for a most of 45 days on account of limitations with its batteries, however Stich mentioned through the convention that these batteries are being recharged by the house station, so this may be prolonged. “I wish to make it very clear that Butch and Suni are usually not stranded in house,” Stich mentioned. “Our plan is to proceed to return them on Starliner and return them house on the proper time.”

Starliner is performing nicely whereas docked, and the craft might nonetheless be used as a lifeboat to deliver the astronauts house if vital within the case of an emergency, the officers mentioned. Mark Nappi, VP and program supervisor of Boeing’s Industrial Crew Program, reiterated Stich’s feedback, saying, “We’re not caught on the ISS, the crew is just not in any hazard, and there’s no elevated threat after we resolve to deliver Suni and Butch again to Earth.”