Starliner Return Flight Delayed Until Later This Summer

Boeing’s troubled Starliner spacecraft was supposed to have returned to Earth weeks ago, but it’s still at the International Space Station (ISS), along with its crew. And that’s not changing anytime soon. NASA has announced that Starliner’s return flight has been delayed again until an unspecified date in July, giving engineers more time to understand the nature of Starliner’s recent glitches.
NASA reportedly came to this decision after two days of intensive meetings last week with senior leaders at the agency, including Associate Administrator Jim Free. The mission launched on June 5 and was initially scheduled to return on June 14. But mission managers have passed on several return windows as they seek to understand better the causes of multiple helium leaks and malfunctioning reaction-control system (RCS) thrusters.
When NASA announced the previous delays, it noted that the capsule was totally safe and capable of returning astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth. That is still the case for the latest delay. However, the return trip will involve jettisoning the Starliner service module where most of the issues appear to originate. While the spacecraft remains at the station, NASA and Boeing can continue to gather data and analyze the problems.
“We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process,” said Steve Stich, head of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The agency also notes that it doesn’t want Starliner’s departure to interfere with two planned spacewalks on June 24 and July 2. So, the spacecraft won’t hack back to Earth until sometime in July.
Starliner is only rated to spend 45 days docked to the ISS. That puts the latest possible return at July 21. However, NASA notes that the station is fully supplied, and there are no traffic concerns until mid-August. That suggests the agency is prepared for the possibility that Starliner might spend even more time at the ISS. Stich notes that given the extended mission, Starliner will likely have to undergo a full “agency-level review” before being cleared for departure.
NASA allowed Boeing to launch earlier this month with a small helium leak after determining it was not dangerous. However, the craft developed four more leaks in space. Five of the craft’s RCS thrusters also failed, delaying its docking at the ISS. Boeing says four of those engines are now working correctly, but teams are still working to understand the cause. Keeping Starliner docked makes that process easier.
Boeing’s crewed spacecraft was supposed to begin flying years ago, but a series of setbacks allowed SpaceX to zoom ahead. Elon Musk’s aerospace firm has been flying crew to the ISS since 2020. Boeing has struggled with software bugs, faulty valves, and mysterious engine failures as it tries to catch up. The result is a $1.5 billion loss on Starliner, making it unlikely the program will earn Boeing any money—even if Starliner is cleared after this flight, only six possible Starliner crew missions remain on the schedule before NASA retires the ISS.
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