In a surprising turn of events, NASA and Boeing have announced a delay in the return of the Starliner spacecraft. The crewed return, initially scheduled for an earlier date, is now set for June 18.
The Starliner spacecraft was launched on June 5. It carried two NASA astronauts from Florida. This mission is a crucial test. It will help NASA certify Starliner for routine flights.
NASA officials in Houston are juggling various factors. They are fixing faulty components on Starliner. They are also considering weather conditions. ISS scheduling matters are also being taken into account. These include spacewalks by other astronauts aboard the station.
More changes to Starliner’s return date could be announced during its mission. But as of Tuesday, mission officials were targeting June 18 for Starliner’s undocking from the station. Roughly six hours later, the spacecraft would land.
The landing could be in the desert of White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, Willcox Playa in Arizona, or other similar pre-determined locations. This depends on the weather conditions.
Dina Contella, NASA’s deputy program manager for the ISS, shared some information. She told reporters on Tuesday that NASA had detected a new issue on Starliner. It was a “sticky” oxidizer valve. A NASA blog posted on Monday mentioned an additional helium leak on Starliner’s propulsion system. This was on top of four already identified during its 24-hour trek to the space station last week.
During that flight, five of its 28 maneuvering thrusters went dead. But NASA and Boeing were able to regain four of them before docking to the orbital laboratory. Starliner can stay docked to the ISS for a maximum of 45 days, NASA officials have said.
This delay is a reminder of the complexities of space travel. It underscores the importance of safety and thoroughness in all operations. As we look forward to June 18, we hope for a successful and safe return of the Starliner and its crew.
