Boeing’s Starliner: Astronauts stranded on the International Space Station, NASA says they can return

The two astronauts of the Starliner remain on the International Space Station, as their return trip to Earth, scheduled for today (June 26), will not take place.

According to the BBC, the spacecraft’s return to Earth had already been delayed due to mechanical issues that arose with some of its thrusters and helium leaks. NASA’s engineers are conducting a thorough examination of the technical problems before the space agency decides when its astronauts will return to Earth.

Two US astronauts remain in space as Boeing analyzes Starliner problems
https://t.co/pVSjZ3sH2g

— The Guardian (@guardian) June 26, 2024

The Starliner launched on June 5 despite a helium leak. The leak was extremely minor, and engineers determined it would not affect the mission, so they proceeded with the launch. However, during the mission, four additional leaks occurred, along with malfunctions in five of the 28 maneuvering thrusters. The mission was planned to last eight days, but the return date was postponed as engineers investigated the issues.

The American space agency emphasized that the astronauts are not trapped and that the Starliner could return to the International Space Station in case of an emergency. Nevertheless, the sequence of events raises questions about whether the launch should have proceeded despite the leak, as noted by the BBC.

A Boeing spokesperson told The Guardian that “the crew is not pressured to leave the station as there are ample supplies in orbit and the station program is relatively open until mid-August.”

Dr. Adam Baker, head of Rocket Engineering, a British company specializing in rocket propulsion systems, stated that while he understands why the launch took place, he believes that the cause of the leak should have been identified and repaired first.

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