On June 21, NASA announced that the return trip to Earth of two astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) by Boeing’s Starliner has been postponed. The delay comes after Boeing’s Starliner took off for the first time with a two-person crew from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida on June 5. During the 25-hour flight to the ISS, engineers discovered helium leaks and thruster problems on the ship.
Initially, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were supposed to return to Earth on June 13 after a week of work on the ISS. However, due to critical hardware problems on the Starliner, including helium leaks and propulsion system failures, the return trip has been postponed until June 26 with no new date set yet. The mission management team is considering future return opportunities after two planned spacewalks on the ISS.
The delay is giving NASA and Boeing engineers time to evaluate critical hardware problems on the Starliner and improve its systems for future missions. Limited fuel means that the Starliner can only dock with the ISS for 45 days, reducing the chances of a safe return for the astronauts. However, more updates are expected as the evaluation of the ship’s systems continues, and it is currently performing well in orbit while docked with the space station.