NASA and Boeing have adjusted their timeline for the return of the Starliner spacecraft and its inaugural astronaut crew from the International Space Station. Originally slated for June 18, the return date has been pushed back due to ongoing assessments of potential issues that might impact the mission’s conclusion.
The CST-100 Starliner, developed by Boeing, embarked on its historic journey on June 5 with two NASA astronauts aboard. This mission serves as a pivotal test before Starliner can be cleared for regular operational flights.
NASA’s planning team in Houston is meticulously coordinating the return, considering factors such as necessary fixes to components, weather forecasts, and the ISS’s activity schedule, including planned spacewalks by other astronauts. Further updates regarding the return date may be forthcoming as the mission progresses.
Presently, June 18 is the targeted date for Starliner’s undocking from the ISS. Subsequently, approximately six hours later, the spacecraft is anticipated to touch down in designated locations such as the desert areas of White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico or Willcox Playa in Arizona, contingent upon favorable weather conditions.
During an update session with reporters on Tuesday, Dina Contella, NASA’s deputy program manager for the ISS, disclosed a newly detected issue with a “sticky” oxidizer valve while Starliner remained docked to the station. Additionally, a NASA blog highlighted an additional helium leak in Starliner’s propulsion system, in addition to four previously identified leaks during its journey to the space station last week.
Despite encountering challenges such as five out of 28 maneuvering thrusters temporarily failing during the flight, efforts by NASA and Boeing managed to restore functionality to four thrusters before docking with the orbital laboratory.
NASA officials have noted that Starliner can remain docked to the ISS for a maximum duration of 45 days.
