It might sound like the premise of a science fiction movie, but it’s true. Boeing’s Starliner crew can’t return to Earth yet and will stay at the International Space Station (ISS) for at least a couple more weeks.
This space odyssey began when finally, after several failed attempts, Boeing’s Starliner ship took off towards the ISS on June 6. New helium leaks were discovered along the way; However, at the time both NASA and Boeing assured that these leaks did not compromise the Starliner mission.
Why the Starliner crew still can’t return to Earth
Astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams were originally scheduled to return to Earth on June 14. However, the crew has so far not been able to return to the planet and there is no exact date for their return. In this regard, the manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Steve Stich, said that they are working on small helium leaks, as well as seeking to solve a problem with the performance of the thrusters that was observed during docking. “We take our time and follow our standard mission management process.“, he said.
NASA and Boeing issued a statement explaining that they are coordinating to prevent Starliner’s return to Earth from coinciding with two space walks scheduled for this and next week. At that time, the recurring helium leak and the problem with the propellants of the Boeing spacecraft will also continue to be analyzed.
NASA detailed that after the second spacewalk, scheduled for July 2, the ISS agenda will be relatively clearer until mid-August, which would imply that Starliner’s return trip could take place within that period. However, NASA has not yet given a date.
The US space agency also clarified that if any emergency occurred, the Starliner crew was authorized to take the ship and return at any time.
