NASA, Boeing deny Starliner crew 'stranded': 'We're in no rush to get home'

NASA And Boeing civil servants pushed back against recent report that THE two astronauts brought has THE SSI on Starliner are failed on advice. THE companies said In A press conference Friday that they are using "THE luxury of time" has learn as a lot about THE capsule as possible Before he Back has Earth. 

THE two astronauts will be there For A little more weeks while THE business And NASA perform more tests Since THE ground — meaning Again another extension has their stay, However civil servants decreases has provide A new target date For their return.

"I to want has TO DO he real clear that were not In any of them rushing has come House," Steve Stitch, from NASA commercial crew program director, said during THE press conference. "THE station East A Good, on place has stop And take OUR time has work through THE vehicle And TO DO Of course were ready has come house."

In THE temp worker, engineers Since Boeing And NASA will head has New Mexico White Sands Test Ease has to drive A series of remote tests on THE spatialship thrusters. There are 28 thrusters on Starliner, responsible For manufacturing minute changes has THE spatialship movements In orbit, And they are critical For on mooring And unmooring Since THE ISS. That mooring process was stopped on approach When five defective on orbit, but engineers were able has bring four of those thrusters back online, which allowed mooring has continue.

Starliner Also experimented several little helium leaks Since launch on June 5, but NASA And Boeing civil servants said that these leaks are not A concern For back. Starliner East not leak any of them helium while It is moored has THE SSI because they are located In A part of THE spatialship that East farm disabled. THE spatialship Also has ten times THE Rising of helium he needs has get through unmooring And THE deorbit burn, Point said.

THE thruster essay East expected has take A couple of weeks, during which time NASA space flight Veterans Mannish Wilmore And Suni Williams will stay on THE station. As of Today, they have has been on board THE SSI For almost three weeks; THE assignment was expected has last just A week Or SO. THE landing plan will be determined once THE thruster essay East complete, Point said. 

"Were just look has THE chronology has execute that test, And SO goodbye THE test [data]," he added. "It is what is this Really THE long pole, I would be say, In determine A landing date."

Starliner East designed For up has 210 days missions, but This First of all with crew demonstration assignment was limit has 45 days due has boundaries of THE batteries on THE capsules crew module. But those batteries are be recharged by THE space station, SO Point said THE agency East considering extension THE maximum length of THE rest.

"THE risk For THE following 45 days East basically THE even as THE First of all 45 days," he said. 

While Point And Brand Nappi, Boeing program director of THE commercial crew program, said that A root cause of THE problems East always not Understood, that Starliner East on has bring astronauts House In case of A emergency. THE SSI almost had A earlier This week, When A deceased Russian Earth observation Satellite broken up on orbit. (THE cause of THE to break up East not clear.) NASA civil servants educated THE crew has shelter In their respective spatialship, A standard precaution. While No debris came close has THE ISS, In THE event of A collision THE astronauts would be to have used those spatialship has land Since THE station And back has Earth.