Two NASA astronauts are facing an extended stay at the International Space Station due to issues with their Boeing capsule. Originally scheduled to return in mid-June after a week-long visit, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will remain in space until engineers resolve problems with the Starliner capsule.
The decision to delay their return was made after thruster failures and helium leaks were discovered on the capsule. Mission managers, including NASA's commercial crew program manager, Steve Stich, have not yet determined a new return date for the astronauts.
Engineers have been working diligently to address the technical issues, conducting tests on a spare thruster in New Mexico to investigate the problems encountered during docking. Five thrusters failed during the capsule's approach to the space station on June 6, with four now back in operation.
Following the retirement of the space shuttles, NASA turned to private companies for astronaut transportation to the space station. Boeing and SpaceX were awarded contracts worth billions of dollars for this purpose. While SpaceX has been successfully ferrying astronauts since 2020, this mission marked Boeing's first crewed test flight.
The delay in the astronauts' return highlights the complexities and challenges of space travel, underscoring the importance of thorough testing and preparation in ensuring the safety of crewed missions.
