Astronauts Stranded In Space Face:
NASA has once again postponed the return of two U.S. astronauts currently stationed on the International Space Station.
Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams were originally scheduled to return to Earth on June 26. However, due to issues with the Boeing spacecraft, their return has been delayed by an additional two weeks, extending their stay on the space station.
On Friday, NASA announced it needed additional time to investigate the thruster malfunctions and helium leaks that initially delayed the mission.
The ISS mission marked Boeing’s first crewed space launch after more than a decade of planning, during which two launches had to be canceled at the last minute.
Originally scheduled to last only eight days, the mission was extended by two weeks due to helium leaks and problems with the spacecraft’s thrusters.
“NASA and Boeing’s leadership are adjusting the return to Earth of the Starliner Crew Flight Test spacecraft,” NASA stated in a blog post late Friday.
The Boeing spacecraft has been hampered by thruster malfunctions and helium leaks – Joe Skipper/Reuters© Provided by The Telegraph
The post continued: “Moving off Wednesday, June 26, deconflicts Starliner’s undocking and landing from a series of planned International Space Station spacewalks while allowing mission teams time to review propulsion system data.”
Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, explained, “We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process. We are letting the data drive our decision-making regarding the small helium system leaks and thruster performance we observed during rendezvous and docking.”
As the spacecraft approached the space station, its computers shut down five of its thrusters. Four of these thrusters had to be reactivated, and the propulsion system experienced several minor leaks.
Despite these issues, astronauts Wilmore and Williams, both former US Navy test pilots, are reportedly not in a rush to leave the station. NASA mentioned that the station is well-stocked with supplies and the schedule remains relatively open through mid-August.