NASA and Boeing, Stress That Astronauts, Are Not 'Stranded' on ISS.
'Newsweek' reports that two NASA astronauts remain
on the International Space Station, nearly two
weeks after originally being scheduled to return.
Both Suni Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore continue
to wait on the ISS while NASA and Boeing engineers work to
fix a number of helium leaks on the Starliner spacecraft.
Both Suni Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore continue
to wait on the ISS while NASA and Boeing engineers work to
fix a number of helium leaks on the Starliner spacecraft.
The Starliner, which has been delayed several times
before successfully launching on June 5, experienced
some thruster problems while traveling to the ISS. .
According to NASA, the spacecraft has been , "performing well in orbit while
docked to the space station.".
NASA also stressed that the astronauts
are not "stranded" on the ISS as they
could undock and fly home at any time. .
The pair are being kept on the ISS
past their planned return in order to , "allow mission teams time to
review propulsion system data.".
We are taking our time and
following our standard mission
management team process, Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew
Program manager, via 'Newsweek'.
We are letting the data drive
our decision making relative to
managing the small helium system
leaks and thruster performance, Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew
Program manager, via 'Newsweek'.
Originally, Wilmore and Williams were scheduled
to touch down on Earth on June 22 before
the date was pushed back to June 26.
'Newsweek' reports that it took three attempts
to get Starliner's first crewed mission into orbit,
following years of delays and engineering issues.