5 Reasons Why Boeing’s Starliner Mission Faces Uncertain Return Despite Crew’s Safety

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, facing uncertainties after encountering helium leaks and thruster issues during its first crewed test flight to the International Space Station, may extend its mission from 45 days to 90 days. NASA is evaluating the extension, focusing on resolving technical challenges before setting a return date for astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.

CONTENTS: 5 Reasons Why Boeing’s Starliner Mission Faces Uncertain Return Despite Crew’s Safety

• Uncertain return, but crew safe
• NASA considers extending Starliner mission
• Astronauts integrate, perform routine tasks
• Starliner faces challenges amid competition
• ISS crew busy with tasks
• ISS crew handles diverse tasks
• ISS crew conducts diverse operations

Uncertain return, but crew safe

5 Reasons Why Boeing’s Starliner Mission Faces Uncertain Return Despite Crew’s Safety

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, initially projected to last only a few days, now faces uncertainty as no exact return date for its first crewed test flight has been announced. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, mentioned that the US space agency is considering extending the mission duration from 45 days to 90 days, according to CNN.

Despite facing issues like helium leaks and thruster outages during its journey to the International Space Station in early June, officials have repeatedly assured that the Starliner will safely bring astronauts, including Indian-origin Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams and Butch Wilmore, back home.

NASA considers extending Starliner mission

On Friday, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, indicated that NASA is considering extending the Starliner mission’s maximum duration from 45 days to 90 days, with no firm return date yet set, according to a CNN report.

During a briefing, Stich stated, “We’re just looking at the timeline to execute (the test in New Mexico) and then review the data,” adding that determining a landing date is a key factor. He emphasized, “We’re not in a rush to come home.”

The extension is partly due to planned ground tests by Boeing and NASA in New Mexico, aimed at understanding why some of the Starliner’s thrusters unexpectedly failed during the initial leg of its journey.

Astronauts integrate, perform routine tasks

5 Reasons Why Boeing’s Starliner Mission Faces Uncertain Return Despite Crew’s Safety: Stich, along with Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program, mentioned that engineers are still uncertain about the cause of the Starliner’s issues.

Nappi explained that part of the goal in conducting ground tests while the vehicle is still in space is to narrow down the possible reasons for the thruster malfunctions.

Nappi stated, “If the test in New Mexico provides all the answers, we can undock and come home.” He added, “If it gives us 80% of the answer and we need to run one more docked hot fire test on the Starliner in orbit to get 100% of the answers, we want Starliner to be there so we can obtain that information.”

In the meantime, astronauts Williams and Wilmore have integrated with the rest of the crew on the International Space Station and are performing routine tasks.

Starliner faces challenges amid competition

While en route to the International Space Station, several more helium leaks were identified in addition to the thruster issues. The Starliner’s service module, a cylindrical attachment at the bottom of the spacecraft providing much of the vehicle’s power during flight, faced several problems, CNN reported.

By design, the service module does not survive the return to Earth; it is jettisoned and destroyed as the Starliner reenters the atmosphere. This led Boeing and NASA teams to decide to leave the Starliner safely docked with the space station while they investigated these issues.

It remains uncertain whether NASA will extend the mission to 90 days. Stich mentioned that officials need to verify the battery life of the Starliner for this extension. Although the batteries are being recharged at the space station, they should function the same way after 90 days as they do during the first 45 days.

The spaceflight industry often experiences cost overruns, delays, and unmet deadlines. However, Boeing has faced particularly notable challenges, especially when the Starliner program is compared directly with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, CNN reported.

ISS crew busy with tasks

5 Reasons Why Boeing’s Starliner Mission Faces Uncertain Return Despite Crew’s Safety: Crew Dragon, part of the same NASA Commercial Crew Program for astronaut transportation, completed its first test flight in 2020 and has since been conducting routine missions.

Unlike SpaceX, which developed Crew Dragon without the advantage of basing its design on the earlier Cargo Dragon vehicle, Boeing designed Starliner entirely from scratch.

Nappi remarked, “We’ve got a really good test flight that’s been accomplished so far, and it’s being viewed rather negatively.”

In the latest update on the ongoing space mission, the Expedition 71 crew members spent Friday packing a US cargo craft, cleaning the International Space Station, studying futuristic piloting techniques, and conducting eye exams.

NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts also reconfigured a space botany facility. NASA’s live blog stated, “Robotics controllers are scheduled to detach the Cygnus space freighter from the Unity module on July 12 and release it into Earth orbit for disposal over the South Pacific Ocean, ending a five-and-a-half-month mission at the orbital lab.”

ISS crew handles diverse tasks

On Friday, NASA Flight Engineer Matthew Dominick focused on loading trash and discarding gear inside the Cygnus spacecraft, with assistance from fellow NASA astronauts Jeanette Epps and Tracy C. Dyson. The Canadarm2 robotic arm captured Cygnus on February 1, containing over 8,200 pounds of science experiments and crew supplies.

Epps operated medical imaging equipment typically found in optometrist offices on Earth to examine Dyson’s eyes. She assessed the cornea, retina, and lens to help flight surgeons understand and mitigate the effects of microgravity on crew vision.

Earlier, Dyson had collected and stowed excess space station hardware for disposal. Throughout the day, NASA Flight Engineer Mike Barratt routed cables and reprogrammed communications systems in the Columbus laboratory module.

He also organized hardware used earlier in the week for advanced plumbing work in the Tranquility module’s bathroom. Additionally, Barratt restocked supply kits in Columbus’ Human Research Facility racks with biomedical equipment, including sample tubes and needles.

ISS crew conducts diverse operations

5 Reasons Why Boeing’s Starliner Mission Faces Uncertain Return Despite Crew’s Safety: On Friday, Starliner’s Commander Butch Wilmore and Pilot Sunita Williams conducted space botany experiments in Kibo. They removed the Plant Habitat growth chamber from Kibo’s EXPRESS rack, replaced its camera and carbon dioxide sensors, and then reinstalled the research device.

In NASA’s live blog update, it was mentioned that NASA and Boeing are continuing to assess the performance of Starliner’s propulsion system before its return to Earth from the space station. NASA and Boeing leaders held a media teleconference to discuss both Starliner and station operations.

NASA also announced a new target date for the next spacewalk outside the space station, now scheduled for the end of July. This adjustment allows ground teams to further investigate and address a water leak issue in the service and cooling umbilical unit that caused an early termination of a spacewalk on June 24.

Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub practiced planetary spacecraft and robotic piloting techniques for future crew members. He also conducted two sessions of an investigation aimed at developing new materials on the lunar surface.

During the day, Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin spent his time inventorying medical kits and performing maintenance by cleaning fans inside the Rassvet module. Station Commander Oleg Kononenko from Roscosmos replaced thermal components in their life support hardware.