Nasa and Boeing have announced a targeted return date of June 26 for the Boeing Starliner, which currently houses astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams on the International Space Station (ISS). This follows weeks of delays caused by technical issues, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks. The mission, initially planned for eight days, has now been extended to approximately 20 days in space.
“We’re taking a little bit of extra time to work through what we’ve seen and make sure we have all the plans in place to bring the crew home,” said Steve Stich, a Nasa program manager, during a press conference on Tuesday.Nasa and Boeing are meticulously studying these problems before allowing Starliner to leave the station, re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, and land under parachutes.
Here is why astronauts’ return to home is getting delayed:
As per a Wall Street Journal report, Starliner has experienced two main problems: helium leaks in the propulsion system and malfunctioning thrusters. Five helium leaks have been identified, with one noted before the flight began. Additionally, five thrusters temporarily failed during the final approach to the ISS, though four have since come back online.
What measures are being taken to address these issues?
Nasa and Boeing teams are conducting thorough analyses to ensure the spacecraft is safe for the astronauts’ return journey. Mark Nappi, a Boeing vice president, mentioned, “It’s more nominal and the (helium) leaks show that they’re stable and less than they’ve been previously. That leads us to believe that we have a good safe spacecraft.”
Mike Leinbach, a former launch director for Nasa, commented, “This one has a few more issues than I would have expected. We hoped for a clean flight, but we didn’t get one, and we’re dealing with it. They’ll figure this out.”
What is the new return schedule for Starliner?
The return of Starliner is scheduled for June 26. The undocking from the ISS is planned for 10:10 PM Eastern Time on June 25, with the landing expected at White Sands Space Harbor around 4:51am Eastern Time on June 26.
How long was the original mission supposed to last, and why has it been extended?
The original mission duration was approximately eight days. Due to the issues encountered, the mission has been extended to about 20 days to ensure all problems are resolved before the return journey.
Are there sufficient resources on the ISS for the extended stay?
Yes, the ISS has at least four months of reserves for food and other consumables for the astronauts. Nasa officials have confirmed that Starliner can stay docked at the station for up to 45 days, although it is ultimately designed for six-month missions.
Has Nasa dealt with similar situations before?
Yes, extended stays at the ISS have occurred before. For instance, Nasa astronaut Frank Rubio returned to Earth after a record-breaking year-long stay due to delays caused by damage to his return vehicle.
What is the significance of this mission for Boeing?
Starliner is only the sixth type of US-built spaceship to carry NASA astronauts, following the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs of the 1960s and 1970s, the Space Shuttle (1981-2011), and SpaceX‘s Crew Dragon, which began flights in 2020.
This mission is crucial for Boeing, which is under contract with Nasa to conduct six more crewed flights to the ISS, contingent on the vehicle securing agency certification.
A successful mission would help Boeing move past the years of delays and safety concerns that have plagued its space program and provide a much-needed boost to its reputation.
(With inputs from agencies)