Two astronauts will need to make themselves at home on the International Space Station (ISS) for the time being. Following a series of delays and with no return date scheduled yet, American astronauts Sunita ‘Sunni’ Williams, 58, and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, 61, are essentially stuck on the ISS due to issues with the Boeing spacecraft that carried them into orbit on June 5 before arriving at the outpost the next day.
The mission is the first crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner. The original plan was for the two veteran astronauts to spend about a week in space, but last week, NASA and Boeing announced that it might take them a while longer to return.
According to the agency, the return of the Starliner Crew Flight Test spacecraft from the ISS is being rescheduled to give the mission teams enough time to review essential data. Before the launch, NASA and Boeing engineers knew of a slow helium leak in the spacecraft’s propulsion system. They initially believed it wouldn’t affect the test flight or astronaut safety. However, once in orbit, four more helium leaks were found, the agency said.
“We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program in a statement.
NASA’s statement also mentions that Boeing Starliner’s undocking delay is being used to examine critical activities at the space station that will help them in the future. NASA first proposed June 18 as the earliest possible return date, but later changed it to June 22, and then revised it again to June 26. On Friday, it was announced landing would take place at an unspecified date.
Despite the delays, the astronauts are not stranded and the Boeing Starliner spacecraft is available for evacuation in case of an emergency. NASA also stated that the spacecraft can remain at the orbiting lab for up to 45 days if necessary. The space station has sufficient supplies to support the astronauts, so there is no rush to leave.
Williams and Wilmore reside alongside seven other crew members and have taken up responsibilities at the space station while conducting tests to ensure the Boeing Starliner is prepared for upcoming missions. “The crew’s feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and they know that every bit of learning we do on the Crew Flight Test will improve and sharpen our experience for future crews,” said Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Starliner Program.
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