NASA and Boeing to Conduct Ground Tests on Starliner Thrusters for Crew Return

TapTechNews June 30 - NASA and Boeing plan to conduct ground tests in the coming weeks to better understand the issues with the Starliner thrusters before bringing the crew back to Earth. However, officials from both sides emphasized at a Friday afternoon press conference that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are not stranded on the International Space Station. We're not in a rush to go home, said Steve Stich, the NASA commercial crew program manager.

According to TapTechNews, the Starliner was originally scheduled for a 10-day flight test and was to dock with the International Space Station on June 6. However, during the approach to the orbital laboratory, problems occurred with five of the spacecraft's thrusters, and a known helium leak appears to have worsened. NASA and Boeing have been collaborating to assess these issues, and representatives from both sides said on Friday that they will not immediately determine a return date but will make a decision after the ground tests are completed and all analyses are done. The first batch of thruster tests will take place next Tuesday at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

Previously, officials said that due to battery limitations, the longest duration of the Starliner's docking with the International Space Station is 45 days. But Stich said at the press conference that the batteries can be recharged by the space station, so the stay time can be extended. I want to be clear that Butch and Sunita are not stranded in space, he said. Our plan is to continue to bring them back to Earth with the Starliner and let them go home at the right time.

Officials said that the Starliner operated well during the docking and can still be used as a lifeboat to bring the astronauts back to Earth in case of an emergency. Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing's commercial space program, reiterated Stich's remarks, saying, We're not trapped on the International Space Station, the crew is not in danger, and there will be no added risk when we decide to bring Sunita and Butch back to Earth.