Why Are Two Boeing Astronauts Stuck In Space? Know The Reasons Behind Boeing CST-100 Starliner's Delay
Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, which was being tested by NASA-trained astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, encountered technical difficulties, forcing the astronauts to remain aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Starliner was originally scheduled to return to Earth on June 13 after launching from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on June 5. However, the spacecraft experienced several issues, including helium leaks and malfunctioning thrusters.
During its flight to the ISS, four of the Starliner's 28 thrusters malfunctioned, causing a delay in its arrival. A Boeing spokesperson has since stated that four of the five previously malfunctioning thrusters are now operating normally, with only one remaining offline. This is not expected to present an issue for the return mission.
Sunita "Suni" Williams is an American astronaut and US Navy officer who joined NASA in 1998. She has spent a total of 322 days in space and is known for her missions aboard the ISS. Williams holds records for the longest spaceflight by a woman and was formerly the record holder for most spacewalks by a female astronaut. Barry "Butch" Wilmore has also flown on the Space Shuttle Atlantis and served as commander of the ISS.
NASA and Boeing are using the astronauts' extra time aboard the ISS to further assess the problems with the Starliner's thrusters. Steven Hirshorn, NASA chief aeronautics engineer, explained that when the crew departs from the ISS, the service module containing the helium systems and thrusters will be discarded and burn up in Earth's atmosphere upon reentry.
NASA has stated that the Starliner can be docked to the ISS for up to 45 days or a maximum of 72 days using a backup system. The agency is aiming for a return sometime in early July, allowing mission teams on the ISS to thoroughly investigate issues with the propulsion system.
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