Starliner Crew Mission Delayed Until August, NASA Reports

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NASA has announced that Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft will remain docked at the International Space Station (ISS) until August while the agency and Boeing address issues discovered earlier in the mission.

The Starliner capsule, named “Calypso,” has been in space for over 50 days, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Initially slated for an earlier return, the mission has faced multiple delays as NASA conducted necessary ground tests before approving the spacecraft for reentry.

At a recent press conference, Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew manager, stated that despite significant progress, the agency is not yet ready to set a definitive return date. “We’re making great progress, but we’re not ready to do that yet,” Stich explained.

NASA will conduct a review in the first week of August. Only after this review will the agency schedule the Starliner’s return to Earth.

Boeing and NASA have been working on resolving a malfunction in the spacecraft’s propulsion system. Tests are being conducted at White Sands, New Mexico, and further thruster tests are planned while the Starliner remains docked at the ISS.

Stich also mentioned contingency plans, including the possibility of using SpaceX’s Dragon capsule to return the astronauts if the Starliner is deemed unfit for the task.

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