Space travel - Problems in space: "Starliner" still attached to ISS
First, the first crewed launch of the "Starliner" spacecraft takes a long time - then it doesn't return to Earth for a while. For the past month, two astronauts, Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams, have been on the International Space Station ISS with the "Starliner." However, they were only supposed to stay there for a week as an outpost for humanity in 400 kilometers above Earth.
Week by week, they wait on the ISS for their return to Earth. The background is new problems after the launch from the Spaceport Cape Canaveral in early June: The ISS could only dock the crisis-stricken spacecraft after problems with the engines.
Moreover, new helium leaks had occurred on the spacecraft - a leak had already been detected before the launch, but NASA assessed that it posed no danger for the flight. Therefore, tests with identical engines need to be conducted on the ground before the green light for disembarkation can be given. The agency emphasizes: Stranded in space is no one.
Faulty alternative to Musk's SpaceX spacecraft
The "Starliner" is a partially reusable spacecraft consisting of a roughly three-meter-high crew capsule and a service module. In contrast to Elon Musk's "Crew Dragon" from SpaceX, it does not land on water but on land.
He had taken off for the first crewed test flight on June 5 after years of delays. US Vice President Kamala Harris spoke of a "significant milestone" for manned spaceflight. The test flight had previously been postponed several times due to various technical problems with the spacecraft and rocket. There were also problems with a faulty ground computer system.
In May 2022, the "Starliner," developed and built by the US aircraft manufacturer Boeing, had completed a successful unmanned flight to the ISS and spent four days there. In the future, it is supposed to transport astronauts to the ISS as an alternative to the "Crew Dragon" spacecraft.
- The delayed crewed launch of the Boeing Starliner, initially scheduled for a week-long stay on the ISS, has resulted in Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams spending an extended time in space from Cape Canaveral.
- Despite being on the International Space Station for over a month, their return to Earth has been on hold due to engine issues and helium leaks detected on the Starliner spacecraft.
- NASA, emphasizing the importance of crew safety, has ordered ground tests with identical engines before giving the approval for Wilmore and Williams' return to Earth from their space travel on the ISS.
- The Starliner, designed as a competitor to Elon Musk's Crew Dragon, faced challenges after its faulty launch on June 5, marked as a significant milestone by US Vice President Kamala Harris.
- The Starliner, consisting of a crew capsule and a service module, and differing from SpaceX's water-landing Crew Dragon, aims to serve as an alternative for transporting astronauts to the ISS.
- The Starliner, developed and built by US aircraft manufacturer Boeing, showcased its capabilities with a successful unmanned flight to the ISS in May 2022, spending four days in orbit before returning to Earth.
