NASA orders more tests on Starliner, but says crew not stuck in space

Enlarge / Boeing Starliner spatialship East seen moored has THE International Space Station on June 13. NASA

NASA And Boeing civil servants pushed back Friday on securities that THE commercial Starliner crew capsule East failed has THE International Space Station but said they need more time has analyze data Before officially clearing THE spatialship For unmooring And back to school.

Two NASA the astronauts, commander Mannish Wilmore And pilot Suni Williams, will spend has less A little more weeks on THE space station as engineers on THE ground to drive thruster tests has better to understand problems with THE Starliner propulsion system In orbit. Wilmore And Williams spear June 5 a board A Atlas V rocket And moored has THE station THE following day, to end THE First of all segment of Starliner First of all test flight with astronauts.

NASA managers initially foreseen For THE Starliner spatialship has stay moored has THE space station For has less eight days, although they LEFT open THE possibility of A assignment extension. THE test flight East NOW likely has last has less A month And A half, And maybe longer, as engineers to struggle against with helium leaks And thruster Failure on Starliner service module.

Batteries on This Starliner spatialship were initially only approved For A 45 days assignment duration, but NASA civil servants said they are look has extension THE limit After confirming THE batteries are functioning well.

"We to have THE luxury of time," said Ken Bowersox, partner administrator For from NASA space operations assignment direction. "Were always In THE medium of A test assignment. Were always pressing forward."

Previously, NASA And Boeing civil servants delayed Starliner back to school And landing Since mid-June, SO Since June 26, And NOW they to have bypassed A potential landing opportunity In early July. Last week, NASA said In A statement that THE the agency high direction will meet has officially goodbye THE preparation of Starliner For back to school, something that was not part of THE original plan.

"Were not blocked on SSI”

Steve Stitch, director of from NASA commercial crew program, said Friday that he research has clear up "misunderstandings" that directed has securities affirming THE Starliner spatialship was blocked Or failed has THE space station.

"I to want has TO DO he very clear that Mannish And Suni are not failed In space," Point said. "OUR plan East has continue has back them on Starliner And back them House has THE RIGHT time. We to have A little little more work has TO DO has get there For THE final back, but they are on on (THE) space station."

With Starliner moored, THE space station Currently hosts three different crew spatialship, including SpaceX Crew Dragon And Russia Soyuz. There are No serious plans below consideration has bring Wilmore And Williams House on A different spaceship.

"Obviously, We to have THE luxury of having several Vehicles, And We work contingency plans For a lot of different case, but RIGHT NOW, were Really concentrate on to come back Mannish And Suni on Starliner," Point said.

"Were not blocked on THE "ISS", said Brand Nappi, Boeing vice president In charge of THE Starliner program. "It is pretty painful has read THE things that are out there. We have got A Really GOOD test flight It is has been accomplished SO far, And It is be seen instead negatively. »

Point said NASA civil servants should to have "more frequent interaction" with journalists has fill In gaps of information on THE Starliner test flight. from NASA writing updates are not always timely, And often lack details And context.

NASA civil servants to have erased THE Starliner spatialship For A emergency back has Earth if astronauts need has clear out THE space station For security Or medical the reasons. But NASA doesn't Again approved Starliner For back to school And landing below "nominal" conditions.

"When he East A contingency situation, were ready has put THE crew on THE spatialship And bring them House as A rescue boat," Bowersox said. "For THE nominal entrance, We to want has look has THE data more Before We TO DO THE final call has put THE crew a board THE v...