NASA and Boeing Dispel Rumors of “Stranded” Starliner Crew: Asserting No Urgency for Return

Responding to reports suggesting that the two astronauts aboard the ISS via Starliner were marooned, officials from NASA and Boeing clarified during a Friday press briefing that they are opting to thoroughly understand the capsule by capitalizing on the available time before its return journey to Earth.

The astronauts are set to stay onboard for an additional few weeks as further evaluations are conducted from Earth by NASA and the company, leading to another extension of their mission without a confirmed return date being provided by the officials.

“It’s important to underscore that we’re in no hurry to head back,” articulated Steve Stich, who helms NASA’s commercial crew program, at the press event. “The station offers a secure and convenient pause for us to meticulously evaluate the vehicle and ensure it’s primed for the return.”

Meanwhile, engineers from both organizations will venture to the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico for a barrage of off-site trials focused on the spacecraft’s propulsion system. Starliner’s 28 thrusters, pivotal for the precise maneuvering required in orbit for safe ISS docking and departure, will undergo extensive testing. Despite a hiccup where five thrusters malfunctioned, remedial action saw four reinstated, facilitating a successful docking.

Despite encountering several minor helium leaks since its June 5 launch, officials maintain these incidents pose no threat to Starliner’s return. The leaks are occurring in an isolated section of the spacecraft, which is sealed off while docked to the ISS. Additionally, Starliner is equipped with a helium reserve sufficient for its undocking and the subsequent deorbit maneuver, as per Stich.

The thruster evaluation process is anticipated to span a couple of weeks, throughout which, spaceflight veterans Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will extend their stay at the ISS. Their mission, originally projected to be brief, has now neared three weeks of duration. The landing strategy will be formulated post thruster evaluation, according to Stich.

“Our focus now is on executing and then analyzing the thruster test data,” he continued. “This is the critical factor driving the scheduling of a landing date.”

Although designed to accommodate missions up to 210 days, this inaugural manned demo mission of Starliner was capped at 45 days due to the limitations of the crew module’s batteries. However, with recharging facilities available on the space station, there’s a discussion about possibly extending this duration, mentioned Stich.

“The risk profile for an extended stay of another 45 days remains consistent with the initial period,” he observed.

While the root causes of the encountered issues are still under investigation, Stich and Boeing’s Mark Nappi, the program manager for the commercial crew initiative, assert that Starliner remains a reliable option for the astronauts’ safe return, even in emergencies. This assurance came into play earlier in the week when a defunct satellite fragmented in orbit, prompting preparatory measures for potential evacuation, illustrating the capsule’s readiness to ensure the crew’s safe descent in unforeseen scenarios.