Why NASA astronauts are delayed at the space station after Boeing Starliner launch

When two veteran NASA astronauts blasted off on a test drive of Boeing’s new capsule, they anticipated to go residence from the Worldwide House Station in per week or so.

It is now three weeks and counting for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams as NASA and Boeing troubleshoot equipment problems that popped up on the way in which there.

Three potential touchdown dates had been known as off and their flight house is now on maintain.

This week, Boeing stated the Starliner capsule’s issues aren’t a priority for the return journey and “the astronauts will not be stranded.”

The long-delayed take a look at flight is the primary with astronauts aboard. Boeing will finally be part of SpaceX in ferrying crews to and from the space station for NASA.

A have a look at what’s behind the prolonged keep:

Why was the Starliner return journey postponed?

NASA desires extra time to investigate issues within the spacecraft’s propulsion system, which is used to maneuver in flight. The propulsion system is connected to the capsule, however it does not come again to Earth for inspection. It’s ditched throughout reentry and burns up.

“We’re simply taking a little bit extra further time to overview all the info and likewise be taught as a lot as we are able to whereas we’ve got this service module in orbit,” Steve Stich, NASA’s industrial crew program supervisor, stated at a information convention final week earlier than the newest postponement.

The space company additionally stated it did not need the departure to battle with spacewalks. This week’s spacewalk was known as off after water leaked from an astronaut’s spacesuit whereas she was nonetheless contained in the orbiting lab. Tuesday’s spacewalk was nonetheless on the schedule.

What are the issues being investigated?

5 of the capsule’s 28 thrusters went down throughout docking, because the capsule closed in on the space station. All however one thruster was restarted, they usually labored throughout a later take a look at firing, NASA stated. Officers suspect that warmth from all of the thruster motion at docking triggered the shutdown. The one defective thruster has been turned off and isn’t a problem for the return journey, Boeing stated.

The capsule launched June 5 with one small helium leak, however 4 extra leaks sprung up by the point it reached the space station. Helium is used to pressurize gasoline for the thrusters, and a defective rubber seal was suspected within the preliminary leak. Officers say there’s an amply provide of helium, and Boeing says the leaks are steady and never a priority.

“To date, we do not see any state of affairs the place Starliner just isn’t going to have the ability to deliver Butch and Suni residence,” Stich stated final week.

What’s subsequent?

Boeing and NASA say they will take into account touchdown dates as soon as the spacewalks are over.

The capsule can stay on the space station for 45 days or longer if wanted, Boeing stated. Within the meantime, mission managers proceed to investigate the thruster bother and helium leaks to allow them to resolve the issues earlier than the subsequent flight.

Wilmore and Williams have been pitching in with chores and analysis on the space station, together with their duties trying out techniques on the Boeing capsule. NASA stated there isn’t any rush for them to go away, and there are many provides for the pair and the seven residents on the space station.

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