Boeing's Starliner is one of two spacecraft NASA has hired to take astronauts to and from the ISS. Other is SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
Definitive return date for the crew remains elusive as engineers work to resolve issues with Starliner's thrusters and helium leaks.
During docking, Starliner lost five thrusters and four were recovered. Engineers are trying to recreate issues with RCS thrusters.
Initial plan was for them to spend just over a week on the ISS, but problems with propulsion system caused delays in docking.
Ms. Williams and Mr. Wilmore have expressed confidence in spacecraft but will test it thoroughly before returning home.
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have been living on the International Space Station (ISS) for an extended period due to issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
Two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, have been living on the International Space Station (ISS) for an extended period due to issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. The initial plan was for them to spend just over a week on the ISS as part of a shakedown flight for Boeing's new Starliner spacecraft. However, problems with the propulsion system caused delays in docking and extended their stay.
Boeing's Starliner is one of two spacecraft that NASA has hired to take astronauts to and from the ISS. The other, SpaceX's Crew Dragon, has been in operation for four years. NASA wants two different spacecraft as a backup in case one vehicle experiences a problem.
During docking, Starliner lost five thrusters and four were recovered. Engineers on the ground are trying to recreate the issues with Starliner's Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters to better understand the cause before clearing it for a nominal return to Earth.
Ms. Williams and Mr. Wilmore have expressed their confidence in the spacecraft, but noted that they will be testing it thoroughly before returning home.
The definitive return date for the crew remains elusive as engineers work to resolve the issues with Starliner's thrusters and helium leaks. Should the stay be extended further, NASA may have to move from their preferred method of crew handover, where both crews are onboard at the same time, to an indirect method used in the Crew Dragon program.
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will spend extra time attached to the International Space Station (ISS)
Engineers on the ground are trying to recreate issues with Starliner’s Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters
During docking, Starliner lost five thrusters and four were recovered
Accuracy
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are currently living on the International Space Station due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft
Two US astronauts are currently stranded on the International Space Station due to issues with Boeing's Starliner transport craft
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are currently living on the International Space Station due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft propulsion system.
NASA wants two different spacecraft as a backup in case one vehicle experiences a problem.
