Boeing's Starliner Spacecraft: Unplanned Issues Extend Astronauts' Stay at ISS

Cape Canaveral, Florida, Florida, USA United States of America
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are on board the docked Starliner at the ISS.
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft encountered unexpected issues during its maiden crewed flight.
Four of five failed thrusters have been resolved, but one remains offline and engineers have decided against attempting further repairs.
Helium leaks in the propulsion system continue to be a concern for NASA and Boeing officials.
NASA and Boeing officials confirmed that the astronauts will return to Earth on June 26, extending their stay at the ISS beyond June 14.
The spacecraft suffered from helium leaks and thruster malfunctions during its approach to the International Space Station.
Boeing's Starliner Spacecraft: Unplanned Issues Extend Astronauts' Stay at ISS

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which was expected to mark a significant achievement by transporting two NASA astronauts on a round trip to the International Space Station, has encountered unexpected issues during its maiden crewed flight. The spacecraft, which suffered from helium leaks and thruster malfunctions during its approach to the ISS, is currently docked at the station with astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore on board. NASA and Boeing officials have confirmed that the astronauts will return to Earth on June 26, extending their stay at the ISS beyond the originally planned date of June 14.

The Starliner spacecraft has experienced several technical issues during its mission. Four of five failed thrusters have been resolved, but one remains offline and engineers have decided against attempting further repairs. Additionally, persistent helium leaks in the propulsion system continue to be a concern for NASA and Boeing officials.

Despite these challenges, there is no reason to believe that Starliner will not be able to bring the astronauts back home safely. The spacecraft has 28 thrusters overall, so a single one malfunctioning will not affect its ability to undock from the ISS or fail to set the two astronauts on the correct path back to Earth.

Engineers are working diligently to understand the root causes of these issues and ensure that they are fully resolved before Starliner flies again. NASA's Commercial Crew Program Manager, Steve Stich, has stated that no decision has been made regarding whether to stick to the original schedule for Starliner's first operational mission, which could take place as early as 2025.

The extended stay at the ISS provides an opportunity for Williams and Wilmore to contribute to ongoing research efforts aboard the station while engineers continue their analysis of telemetry data from Starliner. The astronauts are also assisting with various tasks, including spacewalks and EVA (extravehicular activity) operations, which are dependent on each other in the schedule.

Boeing has sought to frame the mission as a success and learning opportunity despite these unplanned issues. The company intends to 'fully eliminate' both the helium system performance and thruster issues before Starliner flies again.


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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Are there any non-peer reviewed studies or unpublished data that could affect the outcome of this story?

Sources

84%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Two astronauts wait to come home as Boeing races to understand spacecraft issues. Here’s what’s at stake

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Jackie Wattles Wednesday, 19 June 2024 19:00
  • Unique Points
    • Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was set to mark its crowning achievement by ferrying two NASA astronauts on a round trip to the International Space Station
    • The two veteran astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, arrived at the space station aboard the Starliner on June 6
    • There is no reason to believe Starliner won't be able to bring the astronauts back home
    • Boeing has sought to frame the mission as a success and learning opportunity despite unplanned issues
  • Accuracy
    • NASA and Boeing officials confirmed that the astronauts will return to Earth on June 26, 2023
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only reports on the issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft and not the successes of SpaceX's Crew Dragon. It also uses emotional manipulation by describing the situation as a 'moment of uncertainty and embarrassment' for Boeing, implying that there is something wrong with the company.
    • It adds to a chorus of unfavorable news that has followed Boeing as a company for some time.
    • The situation makes for a moment of uncertainty and embarrassment that joins a long list of similar blunders by the Boeing Starliner program, which is already years behind schedule.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (95%)
    The author does not demonstrate any clear bias in the article. However, there are a few instances where the language used could be perceived as having a slight negative slant towards Boeing and its Starliner program. For example, the author mentions that 'tides have shifted' in favor of SpaceX and that Boeing is 'having to build a crew vehicle all up from scratch'. These phrases could be seen as implying that SpaceX has an advantage due to its previous successes and experience, while Boeing is struggling. However, the author also acknowledges that SpaceX had a head start with uncrewed cargo missions before Crew Dragon took flight. Overall, the bias, if any, is minimal and does not significantly impact the article's objectivity.
    • Boeing is 'having to build a crew vehicle all up from scratch'
      • ]SpaceX did have a head start with the cargo program[
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      97%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Boeing’s Starliner capsule took astronauts to space — now it needs to bring them back

      TechCrunch Aria Alamalhodaei Thursday, 20 June 2024 15:41
      • Unique Points
        • Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will spend over twenty days on the International Space Station instead of eight due to technical issues
        • NASA and Boeing officials confirmed that the astronauts will return to Earth on June 26, 2023
        • Four of five failed thrusters have been resolved, but one remains offline and engineers have decided not to attempt further repairs
      • Accuracy
        • Initially projected stay of about a week for Williams and Wilmore has been extended due to helium leaks and thrusters that abruptly stopped working
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (95%)
        No formal fallacies found. However, there are some issues with inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority.
        • . . . the two-person crew is currently due to spend more than double the planned amount of time in space due to continuing technical issues on orbit.
        • <dummy00027>CitationsNeeded Engineers will continue to take a hard look at the technical problems Starliner has encountered so far during this demonstration mission, including persistent helium leaks in the propulsion system and several thrusters that stopped working when the capsule was in the final phase of rendezvousing with the ISS.
        • NASA official Steve Stich said during a news conference Tuesday.
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      97%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      NASA moves Starliner landing to June 26 to collect more test flight data – Spaceflight Now

      Spaceflight Now Tuesday, 18 June 2024 00:00
      • Unique Points
        • Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will remain docked to the International Space Station for an additional four days, extending its test flight by 20 days in total.
        • Starliner commander Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and co-pilot Sunita Williams have more time to help out aboard the station while engineers continue scrutinizing telemetry and finalizing plans for re-entry with five known helium leaks in the capsule’s propulsion system.
        • One jet will not be used for the remainder of the flight, but other suspect thrusters were successfully ‘hot fired’ during a test, giving managers confidence they will work as needed for post-undocking maneuvers and to drop the Starliner out of orbit for re-entry and landing.
        • Engineers say the spacecraft has more than seven times the amount of helium needed for the remainder of the flight. However, they are still assessing data to better understand system behavior.
        • Boeing intends to ‘fully eliminate’ both issues (helium system performance and thrusters) before Starliner flies again.
        • The Starliner can safely return Wilmore and Williams to Earth if an immediate departure is required due to an issue.
        • Starliner undocking, ISS spacewalks, and EVA tasks are dependent on each other in the schedule.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The article contains a few instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. It also presents a dichotomous depiction of the Starliner's issues. However, the author provides detailed information about the spacecraft's technical problems and NASA's plans for addressing them, which allows for an informed analysis.
        • The additional docked time will give Starliner commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore and co-pilot Sunita Williams more time to help out aboard the station while flight controllers and engineers continue scrutinizing telemetry and finalizing plans for re-entry with five known helium leaks in the capsule’s propulsion system...
        • One jet will not be used for the remainder of the flight, but the other suspect thrusters were successfully “hot fired” during a test Saturday, giving managers confidence they will work as needed for post-undocking maneuvers and to drop the Starliner out of orbit for re-entry and landing.
        • NASA and Boeing managers decided the leak was too small to pose a safety threat and the ship was cleared for launch.
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      95%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Boeing Starliner Strands 2 Astronauts On International Space Station

      Jalopnik Ryan Erik Thursday, 20 June 2024 16:55
      • Unique Points
        • Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are currently stranded on the International Space Station
        • NASA ordered a delay before the launch due to a pressure regulation valve issue on the Atlas V rocket’s liquid oxygen tank
        • During its trip to the ISS, Starliner suffered helium leaks and unexpectedly stopped working
        • Five of Starliner’s 28 reaction control thrusters failed during the final phase of docking
      • Accuracy
        • Their return date has been delayed to no earlier than June 26
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The article contains a few informal fallacies and an example of inflammatory rhetoric. The author uses sensationalist language when describing the Starliner's issues as 'helium leaks' and 'thrusters unexpectedly stopped working', which can create a misleading impression about the severity of these issues. Additionally, there is an appeal to authority in the quote from Steve Stich: 'We want to give our teams a little bit more time to look at the data, do some analysis and make sure we're really ready to come home.' This implies that NASA is being cautious with the Starliner's safety, but it is not a direct statement about the safety of the spacecraft. Lastly, there are inflammatory statements such as 'Re-entries are incredibly dangerous with proven spacecraft. It's better to be safe than sorry on the Starliner's debut mission.' This statement exaggerates the risk involved in re-entries and implies that Starliner has been proven unsafe, which is not explicitly stated in the article.
        • The pair launched on June 6 in the Boeing Starliner's first crewed flight and were slated to return after a week, according to CNN.
        • Re-entries are incredibly dangerous with proven spacecraft. It's better to be safe than sorry on the Starliner's debut mission.
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      95%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Astronauts’ return delayed again as Boeing and NASA try to learn more about spacecraft issues

      CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Jackie Wattles Tuesday, 18 June 2024 21:58
      • Unique Points
        • Two veteran astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, will extend their stay on the International Space Station until at least June 26 due to issues with the Boeing-built Starliner spacecraft.
        • The service module, which will not be returning with the mission, contains cylindrical attachment that sits at the bottom of the spacecraft where most of issues occurred.
        • NASA and Boeing officials are working to review flight data and analyze problems. Thruster issues may be caused by overheating affecting fuel burn during rapid firing.
        • Of the five service module thrusters that failed during flight, all but one have been recovered.
      • Accuracy
        • ,
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The article contains an appeal to authority and a potential false dilemma. The appeal to authority is evident in the quote from Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager: “So far, we don’t see any scenario where Starliner is not going to be able to bring Butch and Suni home.” This statement is given weight because of Stich's position, even though no specific data or reasoning is provided. The potential false dilemma comes from the framing of the issues with the spacecraft: “Keeping the vehicle in orbit is essential to studying the issues, which occurred on the Starliner spacecraft’s service module — a cylindrical attachment that sits at the bottom of the spacecraft. The service module will be jettisoned and discarded as the capsule returns home from space.” This suggests that only by keeping the vehicle in orbit can engineers study the issues, implying a binary choice between studying the issues and returning home. However, it is not clear whether this is an inherent limitation of the situation or simply a convenient choice for NASA and Boeing.
        • So far, we don’t see any scenario where Starliner is not going to be able to bring Butch and Suni home. - Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager
        • Keeping the vehicle in orbit is essential to studying the issues, which occurred on the Starliner spacecraft’s service module — a cylindrical attachment that sits at the bottom of the spacecraft. The service module will be jettisoned and discarded as the capsule returns home from space.
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication