NASA Astronauts Stranded in Space: Starliner's Third Delay Due to Helium Leaks and Thruster Issues

Houston, Texas, Texas, USA United States of America
NASA had hoped to certify Starliner for operational crew rotation flights starting early next year, but it's not yet clear if that remains a realistic goal given the ongoing delays and issues.
Starliner's initial mission was scheduled to last only eight days but has now been extended indefinitely due to ongoing issues.
The latest setback comes as NASA and Boeing continue analysis of helium leaks and thruster performance issues observed during rendezvous and docking process.
Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, have been stranded in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since late June 2024 due to issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
NASA Astronauts Stranded in Space: Starliner's Third Delay Due to Helium Leaks and Thruster Issues

Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, have been stranded in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since late June 2024 due to issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. The delay marks the third time that Starliner's return to Earth has been postponed.

The latest setback comes as NASA and Boeing continue their analysis of helium leaks and thruster performance issues observed during the rendezvous and docking process. Steve Stich, NASA commercial crew program manager, stated that data is driving decision making regarding managing these problems.

Starliner's initial mission was scheduled to last only eight days but has now been extended indefinitely due to the ongoing issues. The spacecraft encountered five thruster malfunctions and several helium leaks during its first-ever crewed flight, which forced the astronauts to remain aboard the ISS.

The Starliner spacecraft is currently docked at the Harmony module's forward port on the ISS. NASA had initially planned for Starliner to depart from the station and return to Earth on June 25, with a landing scheduled for early June 26. However, given that engineers will not be able to examine the actual hardware after the fact, NASA and Boeing managers want to give them as much time as possible to review telemetry and polish contingency scenarios in case additional problems show up after undocking.

NASA had hoped to certify Starliner for operational crew rotation flights starting early next year. However, it's not yet clear if that remains a realistic goal given the ongoing delays and issues with the spacecraft.

The astronauts are reportedly in good spirits and have expressed overwhelmingly positive feedback about their experience aboard the Starliner spacecraft.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • Are all thruster issues resolved?
  • Is the cause of the helium leaks definitively identified?

Sources

93%

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

Will Boeing Starliner issues delay its 1st long-duration astronaut flight? It’s too soon to tell.

Space.com Elizabeth Howell Monday, 24 June 2024 10:00
  • Unique Points
    • Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft docked at the International Space Station in June 2024 during its first-ever crewed flight.
    • ,
  • Accuracy
    • Boeing's Starliner spacecraft docked at the International Space Station in June 2024 during its first-ever crewed flight.
    • NASA and Boeing are focusing on finishing the first astronaut mission aboard the Starliner spacecraft early next month.
    • Starliner experienced helium leaks and thruster issues that extended its Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission from an originally planned 10 days after launching June 5.
    • Starliner is expected to carry at least three astronauts to the ISS for a normal six-month mission in Starliner-1.
  • Deception (75%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • 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

98%

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 again delays Starliner undocking, return to Earth – Spaceflight Now

Spaceflight Now Saturday, 22 June 2024 00:00
  • Unique Points
    • NASA and Boeing managers have decided to extend the Starliner crew capsule's stay at the International Space Station, passing up a June 26 re-entry to allow more time for analysis and testing to make sure helium leaks and thruster failures are fully understood.
    • The issue for Starliner troubleshooters is that the helium leakage and the thrusters in question are located in the Starliner's drum-shaped service module, which is attached to the base of the crew capsule.
    • Given that engineers will not be able to examine the actual hardware after the fact, NASA and Boeing managers want to give them as much time as possible to review telemetry, to continue testing and to polish contingency scenarios in case additional problems show up after undocking.
    • NASA managers were hoping to certify the Starliner for operational crew rotation flights to the ISS starting early next year, but it's not yet clear if that's remains a realistic goal.
  • Accuracy
    • NASA and Boeing managers have decided to extend the Starliner crew capsule’s stay at the International Space Station, passing up a June 26 re-entry to allow more time for analysis and testing to make sure helium leaks and thruster failures are fully understood.
    • The Starliner’s undocking and return to Earth likely will slip past two already planned space station spacewalks on Monday and July 2.
    • NASA plans to hold a formal re-entry readiness review before setting a new landing target date.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • 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

94%

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 stranded in space face further setback to return home

Entertainment Variety Tv Site: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv-site/ Tom Haynes Monday, 24 June 2024 14:09
  • Unique Points
    • Two US astronauts, Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita Williams are stranded in space.
    • The Starliner spacecraft encountered helium leaks and thruster issues during its first-ever crewed flight.
  • Accuracy
    • Two US astronauts, Barry
    • Starliner was launched June 5
    • Five of Starliner’s 28 RCS thrusters experienced issues during its way to the ISS for docking.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The article contains some instances of appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric, but no formal or dichotomous fallacies are present. The author quotes Nasa and Boeing officials multiple times to establish their expertise on the matter at hand. Additionally, the author uses phrases like 'increased scrutiny from regulators' and 'lost more than $1.5bn' to elicit an emotional response from the reader, but these statements do not constitute fallacies.
    • ]Nasa said in a blog post late Friday[.
    • It continued:
    • Steve Stich, Nasa’s Commercial Crew Program manager, said:
    • [The company has faced increased scrutiny from regulators this year over its 737 Max aeroplanes after a door blew off a flight over Oregon in January.]
  • 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

99%

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

Starliner return delayed to July

Space News Site: https://spacenews.com/lunar-time-standard/ Jeff Foust Saturday, 22 June 2024 02:04
  • Unique Points
    • NASA and Boeing have delayed the return of Starliner spacecraft from ISS until at least early July
    • Starliner could remain at the station for up to 45 days
    • Steve Stich, NASA commercial crew program manager, stated that data is driving decision making regarding managing small helium system leaks and thruster performance issues observed during rendezvous and docking
  • Accuracy
    • Starliner was scheduled to spend only eight days at the station but will now spend close to a month there
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • 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

98%

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 has again delayed Boeing Starliner’s return to Earth

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Jackie Wattles, Saturday, 22 June 2024 02:28
  • Unique Points
    • Boeing Starliner's return to Earth from the International Space Station has been delayed due to issues with five thrusters and helium leaks.
    • NASA and Boeing are reviewing propulsion system data to manage small helium system leaks and thruster performance.
  • Accuracy
    • Boeing Starliner's return to Earth from the International Space Station has been delayed
    • Starliner experienced helium leaks and thruster issues that extended its mission duration
    • NASA and Boeing are reviewing propulsion system data to manage small helium system leaks and thruster performance
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • 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