Starliner Delay: Astronauts to Spend Extra Week in Space
Submitted by MAGA
Posted 99 days ago
Astronauts Williams and Wilmore will be spending at least another week on the International Space Station (ISS) as experts at NASA and Boeing work to resolve issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The two astronauts arrived on the ISS on June 6 after a successful Boeing Starliner launch, but due to mechanical problems with the spacecraft, they will not be returning to Earth until June 26 at the earliest.
The Boeing Starliner is facing several mechanical problems, including issues with five thrusters and five helium leaks. Crews are working to ensure the spacecraft is safe before the astronauts are put back on and return home. This delay comes after NASA and Boeing crews had previously announced June 22 as their return date.
Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, said that they want to give their teams more time to look at the data and do some analysis before the astronauts return to Earth. He emphasized that they do not see a scenario where Starliner is not going to be able to bring the astronauts home.
Despite the delay, the astronauts are reportedly feeling positive about the situation. Dana Weigel, manager of NASA's International Space Station Program, said that the crew loves being on the ISS and might even want to stay for a longer period of time. Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager for the Commercial Crew Program at Boeing, echoed this sentiment, saying that the crew is taking advantage of the extra time to do more work.
This mission follows years of other challenges Boeing has faced with Starliner. In 2019, an unmanned aircraft saw a test failure with dozens of software glitches, design problems, and management issues. Three years later, a repeat unmanned test successfully landed on the ISS.
Boeing hopes Starliner will compete with SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, which has been NASA's only vehicle for sending ISS crew members to orbit from the US since 2020. The latest in-flight problems follow years of challenges Boeing has faced with Starliner, compounding the ongoing issues with the company's commercial jet program.
Despite these challenges, NASA and Boeing remain committed to ensuring the safety of the astronauts and the success of the mission. The crew will attempt to land in the White Sands area of New Mexico next week, and if they cannot make the June 26 landing, the next opportunity will be on July 2.
Sources:
sg.news.yahoo.com
zerohedge.com
The Boeing Starliner is facing several mechanical problems, including issues with five thrusters and five helium leaks. Crews are working to ensure the spacecraft is safe before the astronauts are put back on and return home. This delay comes after NASA and Boeing crews had previously announced June 22 as their return date.
Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, said that they want to give their teams more time to look at the data and do some analysis before the astronauts return to Earth. He emphasized that they do not see a scenario where Starliner is not going to be able to bring the astronauts home.
Despite the delay, the astronauts are reportedly feeling positive about the situation. Dana Weigel, manager of NASA's International Space Station Program, said that the crew loves being on the ISS and might even want to stay for a longer period of time. Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager for the Commercial Crew Program at Boeing, echoed this sentiment, saying that the crew is taking advantage of the extra time to do more work.
This mission follows years of other challenges Boeing has faced with Starliner. In 2019, an unmanned aircraft saw a test failure with dozens of software glitches, design problems, and management issues. Three years later, a repeat unmanned test successfully landed on the ISS.
Boeing hopes Starliner will compete with SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, which has been NASA's only vehicle for sending ISS crew members to orbit from the US since 2020. The latest in-flight problems follow years of challenges Boeing has faced with Starliner, compounding the ongoing issues with the company's commercial jet program.
Despite these challenges, NASA and Boeing remain committed to ensuring the safety of the astronauts and the success of the mission. The crew will attempt to land in the White Sands area of New Mexico next week, and if they cannot make the June 26 landing, the next opportunity will be on July 2.
Sources:
sg.news.yahoo.com
zerohedge.com
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