Launched on June 5, the take a look at flight landed on the Worldwide House Station (ISS) on June 6.
In June 2024, when the Boeing Starliner spacecraft carried NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore to area, it was going to be a brief eight-day mission. Nonetheless, it has been 80 days for the reason that launch and the 2 astronauts are but to return.
Launched on June 5, the take a look at flight landed on the Worldwide House Station (ISS) on June 6. Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore are nonetheless caught in area, whereas the date of their return journey stays undecided. Some technical issues with the Boeing Starliner have left NASA unable to maneuver on with their plans.
What’s the mission?
The aim of the Boeing Starliner mission was to demonstrate the spacecraft’s capability to safely carry people to and from the ISS. As a part of NASA’s Industrial Crew Program, Boeing, the aerospace firm, views this journey as important to its objective of becoming a member of Elon Musk’s SpaceX in providing common crew transportation providers to the area company.
Why is the Boeing Starliner nonetheless caught in area?
Helium leaks: The spacecraft’s service module reported a number of tiny helium leaks making it unsafe for journey. Helium is important to preserving the spacecraft’s structural integrity and manoeuvrability.
Thruster issues: The propulsion system of the spaceship skilled malfunctions with 5 of its thrusters. These parts are important for area journey and docking.
Valve points: A number of points with a valve accountable for regulating the move of oxidizers had been detected. The valve is important for propulsion.
What’s NASA doing?
NASA and Boeing engineers are trying to resolve the problems with the spacecraft. They’re inspecting information from the spacecraft’s propulsion system and are testing the spacecraft thrusters. A number of situations are being explored utilizing simulators stationed on the bottom to seek out and handle the issues.
NASA will maintain a press convention in a while Saturday to replace the world on when the 2 astronauts could return to Earth.
