NASA has up to date an FAQ page on its web site with the most recent data on the state of Boeing Space’s beleaguered Starliner mission.
With a lot hypothesis surrounding the state of the spacecraft, the web page affords a definitive information on the place the mission is at proper now.
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in early June within the car’s first crewed flight. But because it approached the ISS, among the spacecraft’s thrusters did not work as anticipated, and plenty of leaks within the Starliner’s helium system have been additionally noticed.
Despite the difficulties, the Starliner efficiently docked with the ISS. But there are considerations that the thruster points may current challenges for the Starliner on its return journey as they play a key function in precisely guiding the car towards its reentry level into Earth’s ambiance.
Engineering groups at NASA and Boeing are nonetheless finishing up thruster exams and in-depth information critiques to attempt to get a clearer understanding of the state of the Starliner.
The mission was solely imagined to final about 10 days, however the Starliner stays docked on the ISS. The mission’s two astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, are actually residing and dealing aboard the ISS as engineers attempt to decide if the Starliner is secure to convey the pair dwelling, or whether or not they must wait till February subsequent yr for a trip again on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
The area company stated it’s now planning to conduct two critiques — a Program Control Board and an Agency Flight Readiness Review — earlier than making a closing resolution on the right way to safely return Williams and Wilmore from the orbital outpost. NASA is predicted to announce a plan by the tip of August.
The complete FAQ web page affords data on topics such because the mission and the delay, the 2 NASA astronauts that rode on the Starliner, and the return choices.
On the matter of whether or not Williams and Wilmore are “stuck” on the ISS, as has been reported by some information retailers, NASA says: “No, Butch and Suni are safe aboard the space station working alongside the Expedition 71 crew.”
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