Boeing ’s Starliner spacecraft remain dock to the International Space Station ( ISS ) while engineering team on the ground bear out tests to well understand the ballistic capsule . The mission was in the first place slate for a week in infinite , but now NASA hopes to refund a work party of two astronauts on display board the Starliner by no originally than the end of July .
Boeing’sStarliner capsule launchedatop United Launch Alliance ’s Atlas V rocket on June 5 , carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams . Since its precarious dockage to the space station , Starliner ’s performance during its ascension has raisedconcern that the spacecraft might not be able-bodied to ravish its crewback to Earth . “ I have a real good feeling in my heart that the spacecraft will land us home , no problem , ” Williams said during a news group discussion from the ISS on Wednesday .
During its approach to the blank space station , five of Starliner ’s thruster failed , of which four were recovered . Starliner also developedfive helium making water , one of which had been identify prior to its launching . The engineering squad trust the leak may be related to the activity of the thrusters .
The Starliner spacecraft docked to the Harmony module’s forward port.The Starliner spacecraft docked to the Harmony module’s forward port. © NASA
The charge was originally scheduled for eight days , but the crew ’s comeback has been hold up several prison term while ground teams conduct tests on the vehicle and collect information before giving the greenish light for the astronauts to return to Earth . Despite the several delay , NASA has constantly assure the media that the astronauts are not strand in range , and that Starliner can undock from the ISS at any distributor point and return the crew safely . This prolonged stay in quad , NASA officials insist , is a choice .
“ We have a overnice opportunity to almost use the International Space Station as a impermanent repair shed to take our meter and see the spacecraft before we undock and return,”Steve Stich , coach of NASA ’s Commercial Crew Program , tell reporters on Wednesday .
The Crewed Flight Test is part of NASA ’s Commercial Crew Program and is meant to transfer work party and cargo to and from the International Space Station ( ISS ) under a $ 4.3 billion contract with the space agency . NASA ’s other commercial-grade partner , SpaceX , has so far launched eight crews to the space station .
This workweek , NASA and Boeing started testing a steel new unit of measurement of the Starliner spacecraft at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in an endeavor to double the pusher issue encountered during its flight . “ The temperatures we ’ve been capable to attain are not quite what we would have hoped for base on the flight data , ” Stich admitted . “ The team are off looking at that data and assay to determine the next steps . ”
For now , Starliner is sitting middling in orbit but it will involve to do down finally . The ISS gang is due for a handover in mid - August , with NASA ’s Crew-9 set to launch to orbit on board SpaceX ’s Dragon spacecraft ( I make out , so awkward ) . Astronauts Wilmore and Williams will require to take off from the ISS before that happens .
“ I think we ’re really form to attempt to follow the datum and see when ’s the early that we could aim for undocking and landing place , ” Stich said . “ I retrieve some of the data suggests , optimistically , maybe it ’s by the end of July , but we ’ll just follow the data point each step at a metre , and then at the right clock time , forecast out when the right undocking chance is . ”
Despite this much incertitude about a return engagement , NASA still insists that Starliner is quick to go home at any moment . “ The prime option today is to rejoin Butch and Sunny on Starliner , ” Stich said . “ Right now , we do n’t see any understanding that that would n’t be the vitrine . ”
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