(Washington) The two astronauts who arrived at the International Space Station three weeks ago aboard Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft are not “stuck” there, NASA said Friday, even though the capsule’s return date has been pushed back and now depends on the analysis of new tests.
These tests concern in particular the problems encountered in flight on the capsule’s thrusters as it approached the Space Station (ISS) to dock there.
Ground tests on similar thrusters will be conducted to recreate the space environment and better understand the cause of the problem. These tests are expected to last about two weeks, and a return date will only be set afterward.
“Butch and Suni are not stuck in space,” stressed Steve Stich, a senior NASA official, during an unusually tense press conference. The return of the vehicle is not “rushed,” he added.
PHOTO MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were originally scheduled to spend just over a week in the flying laboratory, leading the American press to wonder whether the astronauts were currently without a means of return.
They are “not stuck on the ISS, the crew is not in danger,” also hammered home Mark Nappi, a senior Boeing executive. “It’s pretty painful to read the stuff that’s going around. We’ve had a really good test flight so far, and it’s being viewed pretty negatively,” he complained.
“We can bring in Starliner at any time,” he insisted. But “we don’t understand (the problems encountered, Editor’s note) well enough to repair them permanently, so the only way to do it is to take the time” and “collect more data”.
In addition to the thrusters, another anomaly affects Starliner, a new vehicle ordered 10 years ago by NASA to serve as a space taxi transporting its astronauts to the ISS.
NASA and Boeing are still investigating the cause of helium leaks detected during the flight. Helium is not flammable but is used for the propulsion system. However, the spacecraft still has enough helium to re-enter, according to the space agency.
The mission, which Boeing flew years behind schedule, is Starliner’s first with a crew and is necessary for the capsule to obtain NASA certification and begin regular operations.
In the meantime, NASA astronauts have already been joining the ISS thanks to SpaceX vessels for four years.