Two NASA astronauts stranded in space due to Boeing Starliner malfunction

On its first crewed flight, troubling technical glitches with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft have delayed it’s return to Earth.

Two NASA astronauts are “stranded” in space after Boeing Starliner’s return to Earth from the International Space Station was delayed a second time.

NASA and Boeing decided to postpone the spacecraft’s return until an unspecified date in July after it docked on the International Space Station on June 6.

They said the delay of the rescheduled June 26 return will allow more time for the review of the thruster malfunctions and helium leaks that caused the first delay.

Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams were initially scheduled for a nine-day stay, which was pushed back twice this month and now sits at an undetermined date. Picture: AFP

The spaceship blasted off from Florida atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on June 5 following years of delays and safety scares, as well as two aborted launch attempts that came as astronauts were strapped in and ready to go.

“NASA and Boeing leadership are adjusting the return to Earth of the Starliner Crew Flight Test spacecraft,” NASA said in a blog post.

“The move off Wednesday, June 26, deconflicts Starliner’s undocking and landing from a series of planned International Space Station spacewalks while allowing mission teams time to review propulsion system data.”

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich said Starliner was “performing well” and dismissed suggestions astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore had become “stranded” saying they could return to Earth at any time, if necessary.

NASA has delayed the return of Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams from the International Space Station for the third time, raising concerns the crew could be ‘stranded.’ Picture: AFP

However, NASA said the crew wasn’t in a hurry to leave the station because it is well stocked with supplies and the “station’s schedule is relatively open through mid-August”.

“We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process,” Mr Stitch said.

“We are letting the data drive our decision making relative to managing the small helium system leaks and thruster performance we observed during rendezvous and docking.”

The initial International Space Station docking was delayed by more than an hour after some of Starliner’s thrusters that provide fine manoeuvring initially failed to kick in.

Astronauts Sunita Williams (R) and Butch Wilmore (C) boarding the International Space Station after the docking of the Boeing Starliner. Picture: NASA

It was known there was one helium leak affecting Starliner before the launch. However, other leaks emerged during the flight.

The timing of the delay couldn’t be worse for Boeing, as the company is currently dealing with ongoing controversy surrounding the safety culture in its commercial aerospace division.

The company has been locked in an almost permanent state of crisis since two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.

Originally published as Two NASA astronauts stranded in space due to Boeing Starliner malfunction