In the photo, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is docked at the International Space Station.
NASA
NASA confirmed on Thursday that Boeing’s Starliner crewed spacecraft will be docked with the International Space Station until August, as the mission remains on hold as the company and agencies study early problems with the flight. state.
The Starliner capsule “Calypso” carries NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station. It has stayed in space for 50 days and counting. Boeing’s crew flight tests have been extended multiple times while NASA conducts tests on the ground before clearing the spacecraft to bring the two astronauts back to Earth.
Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew manager, said at a news conference Thursday that the agency is not ready to set a return date.
“We’re making tremendous progress, but we’re not ready yet,” Stich said.
Stitch said NASA needs to conduct a review, which won’t happen until the first week of August, and only after that review will the agency schedule Starliner’s return.
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Boeing and NASA earlier this month began testing the spacecraft’s failed propulsion system on the ground in White Sands, New Mexico. The organizations are currently analyzing thrusters being tested at White Sands ahead of a test launch of the Starliner capsule this weekend as it docks with the International Space Station.
Stitch again acknowledged that NASA has contingency plans in place in the event the agency determines Starliner returns without Wilmore and Williams, with alternatives including using SpaceX’s Dragon capsule to bring back NASA astronauts.
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