Boeing delays the reentry of Starliner crew members.
Hey there,
Turns out the Boeing Starliner astronauts were supposed to chill at the International Space Station (ISS) for just a week, but it looks like the homecoming ride is causing some trouble, leaving us stuck in limbo for now.
Seems like NASA has put the brakes on the return of the first crewed flight of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft from its mission to the ISS. Steve Stich, leader of the NASA program, confirmed the delay, stating, "We're taking our time and following our usual mission management team protocol." Apparently, the extra time could provide essential insights for future system enhancements, according to Stich. Originally, the return was set for June 26, but with Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams having launched to the ISS on June 5 for routine NASA certification, the extended stay could be quite productive.
The docking of the Starliner with the ISS went well initially, but there were issues with the engines that required a second attempt during undocking, as shown by NASA Live Images. NASA reported engine problems and previously discovered helium leaks on the spacecraft. Although NASA assessed these leaks as not posing a threat to the flight, it's still a hiccup in the journey.
NASA aspires to offer the Starliner, along with SpaceX's Crew Dragon, as additional spacecraft for transporting its astronauts to space. However, the Starliner program has had software issues, design troubles, and disagreements with suppliers for quite some time now. It's currently years behind schedule and over budget by 1.5 billion dollars.
So, basically, the homecoming party for the Boeing Starliner and its astronauts is on hold due to some engine and leak issues. NASA's taking its time to sort things out and gather valuable insights for future missions – you know, just your standard spacefaring drama.
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Despite the initial successful docking, the Starliner experienced engine issues during undocking, leading to a second attempt. Due to these complications, NASA, in partnership with Boeing, is using this extended stay at the ISS as an opportunity for Education and research, potentially providing insight for future improvements to the Starliner.
