NASA has announced a further delay in the return of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station. The agency stated on Friday that more time is needed to assess technical issues encountered during the mission, leaving uncertainty about when astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will return from Boeing’s first crewed mission.
According to NASA, mission managers are evaluating future return opportunities following the station’s two planned spacewalks on June 24 and July 2. Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, highlighted the importance of taking time and following standard mission management team processes. He noted that Starliner is performing well while docked to the space station and that the additional time will provide valuable insights into system upgrades for future missions.
The crewed test of the Starliner spacecraft, which has undergone two uncrewed test flights since 2019, has faced several challenges, including failures of its maneuvering thrusters, helium gas leaks, and a slow-moving propellant valve. Boeing has incurred $1.5 billion in cost overruns beyond its $4.5-billion NASA development contract.
NASA aims to establish Starliner as a second US spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts to the ISS, alongside SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which has been the primary ride since 2020. However, the Starliner program has faced numerous challenges over the years, including software glitches, design problems, and subcontractor disputes.
During Starliner’s approach to the space station on June 6, five thruster failures prevented a close approach until Boeing implemented a fix by rewriting software and adjusting procedures, enabling four of the thrusters to be revived and allowing the spacecraft to proceed with docking.
The undocking and return to Earth represent the most complex phases of Starliner’s test mission. NASA officials have expressed their desire to better understand the cause of the thruster failures, valve issue, and helium leaks before Starliner begins its return. Although only one thruster remains non-functional in the current flight, Boeing encountered four thruster problems during the capsule’s uncrewed return from space in 2022. Flight rules established by Boeing and NASA require Starliner’s maneuvering thrusters to provide “six degrees of freedom of control” at a minimum, with each thruster having one backup. According to a NASA spokesperson, this could mean that at least 12 of the 28 thrusters, mostly backups, are necessary for a safe flight.
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has become the latest addition to the exclusive group of American-made vehicles designed to transport NASA astronauts. It joins the ranks of the iconic Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo capsules from the early days of human spaceflight, the Space Shuttle, which served as NASA’s workhorse for three decades, and the more recent Crew Dragon developed by SpaceX.
The success of this mission holds significant importance for Boeing, as the company has entered into an agreement with NASA to carry out an additional six crewed flights to the International Space Station. However, these future missions are dependent on Starliner receiving official certification from the space agency. By demonstrating the spacecraft’s capabilities and reliability, Boeing aims to overcome the setbacks and safety issues that have hindered its space program in recent years, ultimately seeking to restore confidence in its brand and technological prowess.
