Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, carrying its first-ever crew to the International Space Station (ISS), has faced a setback in its mission. Originally scheduled for an eight-day trip, the Starliner’s journey has been extended due to concerns about its thrusters. These thrusters are vital for controlling the spacecraft’s orientation and are crucial for its safe return to Earth.
On June 6th, during the Starliner’s approach to the ISS, problems arose with some of the thrusters. NASA, prioritizing the safety of the crew, decided to prolong the mission while investigating the issue and exploring potential solutions. Consequently, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, the Starliner’s crew members, have had their mission extended indefinitely.
NASA is set to provide a comprehensive update on the situation and potentially announce a return date for the Starliner on Thursday, July 25th at 11:30 a.m. ET. The update will be accessible through NASA’s website and will feature Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, and Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program.
To gain a better understanding of the thruster issue, NASA and Boeing have conducted ground hot fire testing of a Starliner reaction control system thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. These tests, simulating the spacecraft’s in-flight conditions, included stress-case firings to evaluate the thrusters’ performance during critical phases like undocking and the deorbit burn that will prepare the Starliner for landing in the southwestern U.S.
The data collected during these tests is currently being analyzed, and initial findings are expected to be shared during the July 25th update.
This Starliner mission serves as a comprehensive test of the spacecraft’s capabilities. Upon its return to Earth, NASA will evaluate the mission to determine if the Starliner can be certified for regular flights to and from the space station, providing an additional option for crewed missions alongside SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.
