Quick Hit:

NASA and Boeing have announced another delay for the return of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station (ISS), leaving NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded as engineers work to address propulsion system issues. The return date has now been pushed to July.

Key Details:

• The return of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard Boeing’s Starliner has been delayed multiple times due to thruster failures and helium leaks.

• NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich emphasized that the decision to delay is driven by data analysis and the need for a thorough review of the propulsion system.

• The delay accommodates upcoming spacewalks on the ISS, with the latest spacewalk scheduled for July 2.

Diving Deeper:

According to a report by CNN, NASA has once again delayed the return of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, has experienced a series of technical issues that have left the astronauts stranded. Initially launched to the ISS on June 5, the Starliner was set to return much earlier, but problems with its thrusters and helium leaks have repeatedly pushed back the schedule.

Officials did not immediately announce a new return date, but NASA indicated that the return of Starliner's inaugural crew would not happen until July. NASA stated in a blog post that the delay allows mission teams to review propulsion system data. Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, said in a Friday statement, "We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process. We are letting the data drive our decision making relative to managing the small helium system leaks and thruster performance."

The Starliner is currently docked at the ISS's Harmony module, and Stich mentioned that it could stay docked for up to 45 days if needed. This flexibility is particularly useful as it accommodates two upcoming spacewalks planned by astronauts at the ISS, the last of which is slated for July 2, indicating that Starliner's return won't occur before then.

During a Tuesday news conference, when a previous delay was announced, officials from NASA and Boeing expressed their intent to keep the Starliner capsule safely docked while ground teams worked to understand and fix the helium leaks and thruster issues. Stich reassured that the vehicle remains safe and capable of returning the astronauts home. "So far, we don't see any scenario where Starliner is not going to be able to bring Butch and Suni home," Stich told reporters.

Stich reiterated this assessment on Friday, saying, "Boeing's Starliner spacecraft remains cleared for return in case of an emergency on the space station that required the crew to leave orbit and come back to Earth."

Despite the ongoing delays, Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of the Commercial Crew Program for Boeing, noted that feedback from the astronauts about the Starliner has been "overwhelmingly positive." Nappi added, "(The astronauts) know that every bit of learning we do on the Crew Flight Test will improve and sharpen our experience for future crews."

This delay is the latest in a series of setbacks for Boeing, which has faced significant safety and technical issues over the past few years. Notably, Boeing has struggled with its 737 MAX aircraft, which was grounded worldwide following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 due to software flaws. The company has also faced problems with its 787 Dreamliner, including production flaws that have delayed deliveries. More recently, Boeing has dealt with incidents involving engine fires, mechanical issues, and emergency landings across various aircraft models​