In this photo, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft docks at the International Space Station operating above the Mediterranean coast of Egypt on June 13, 2024.
NASA
NASA and boeing company The organization announced on Friday that it would further extend the first crewed Starliner flight, but has not yet set a new target date for returning the capsule to Earth.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule “Calypso” will stay at the International Space Station until next month while the company and NASA conduct new tests on the ground. Boeing’s manned flight test was the first time Starliner carried people, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.
The Starliner team is beginning testing of the spacecraft’s thruster technology in White Sands, New Mexico, and the testing will be completed before Starliner returns to Earth, officials said.
“We think the test will probably take several weeks. We’re doing our best to replicate onboard conditions on the ground,” Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew manager, said at a news conference.
Boeing and NASA plan to keep Starliner in space for nine days before launching on June 5. As of Friday, Starliner flights have accumulated 24 days of flying and counting.
Despite the lengthy stay at the International Space Station, officials stressed that Starliner can return safely at any time if an emergency occurs. NASA and Boeing said the test was delayed simply to collect more data on the spacecraft’s performance, particularly its thruster systems.
“I want to make it clear that Butch and Suny are not stranded in space,” Stitch said.
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The Starliner crew flight test is the last important step before NASA approves Boeing’s crew for the six-month mission. However, similar to the previous two unmanned spaceflights, Starliner encountered some problems during the mission.
Starliner was once seen as a competitor to SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which has carried out 12 manned flights to the International Space Station in the past four years. However, various setbacks and delays have gradually reduced Starliner to a backup position for NASA, which plans to have SpaceX and Boeing alternately fly astronauts.
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