Two veteran NASA astronauts are expected to return home from the International Space Station in about a week as they test-fly Boeing’s new space capsule.
It’s been three weeks now, and Butch Wilmore and Suny Williams are working for NASA and Boeing to troubleshoot equipment problems that arose along the way.
Three potential landing dates were canceled and return flights were put on hold. On Friday, officials said there was no rush to bring them home and more testing would be done first.
“I want to make it clear that Butch and Suny are not stranded in space,” said Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager.
Stich said that if there was an emergency on the space station and astronauts needed to escape quickly, they could use the capsule.
The long-delayed test flight was the first to carry astronauts. Boeing will eventually work with SpaceX to transport astronauts to and from the space station for NASA.
Why was Starliner’s return flight delayed?
When the return trip was put on hold, NASA said it needed more time to analyze problems with the spacecraft’s propulsion system, which is used to maneuver in flight. The propulsion system is connected to the capsule, but it will not return to Earth for inspection. It was jettisoned and burned up upon re-entry.
The space agency also said it did not want the departure to conflict with the spacewalk. But Monday’s spacewalk was canceled after an astronaut’s spacesuit leaked while he was still inside the orbiting laboratory. A spacewalk originally scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed until the end of July while the leak is reviewed.
What issues are being investigated?
As the capsule approached the space station, five of the capsule’s 28 thrusters descended during the docking process. NASA said all but one of the thrusters were restarted and functioned in subsequent test launches. Officials suspect heat generated by all thruster action during docking caused the shutdown. A faulty thruster has shut down.
Stich said more thruster testing will be done on the ground before a return date is determined.
The capsule launched on June 5 with a small helium leak, but four more leaks occurred by the time it reached the space station. Helium is used to pressurize the propeller’s fuel, and the initial leak was suspected to be a rubber seal failure. Officials said helium supplies were sufficient, and Boeing said the leak was stable and there was no cause for concern.
“We are aware of these issues to ensure a safe return,” said Boeing project manager Mark Nappi. “We don’t understand these problems well enough to permanently address them.”
What’s next?
Stich said thruster testing in the New Mexico desert will take several weeks. Initially, officials said the capsule could stay at the space station for 45 days due to the batteries inside, but on Friday they said that time could be extended.
Wilmore and Williams have been doing chores and research on the space station and are responsible for checking systems on the Boeing capsule. Both men had spent time on the space station before. NASA said the space station has adequate supplies for two people and seven long-term residents.
