SPACE reports, “Boeing’s Starliner capsule is performing well enough on its first-ever astronaut mission that it will likely be able to stay in orbit beyond the initially envisioned 45-day limit, NASA says. Starliner, which launched on June 5, is docked at the International Space Station(ISS) on an indefinite mission extension.”
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Tag: extended
NASA Orders More Starliner Tests as Crew Remains in Space
Ars Technica reports, “NASA and Boeing officials pushed back Friday on headlines that the commercial Starliner crew capsule is stranded at the International Space Station but said they need more time to analyze data before formally clearing the spacecraft for undocking and reentry. Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams will spend at least a few more weeks on the space station as engineers on the ground conduct thruster tests to better understand issues with the Starliner propulsion system in orbit.”
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Astronauts Remain at ISS as Engineers Examine Issues with Starliner’s Propulsion System
The Washington Post reports, “Before Boeing’s first flight with humans on its Starliner spacecraft earlier this month, the company and NASA said repeatedly that a rigorous testing program following years of delays and costly setbacks meant it was finally ready to fly astronauts. Instead of coming home after about eight days, the spacecraft remains docked to the station, its return delayed indefinitely while teams continue to troubleshoot a series of problems in the capsule’s propulsion system.”
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Starliner Return Delayed a Few More Days as NASA and Boeing Study Data
Ars Technica reports, “NASA and Boeing will take an additional four days to review all available data about the performance of the Starliner spacecraft before clearing the vehicle to return to Earth, officials said Tuesday. Based on the new pending schedule, Starliner would undock at 10:10 pm ET on Tuesday, June 25, from the ISS. This would set up a landing at 4:51 ET on June 26 at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico.”
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Starliner Astronaut Mission Extended Through June 18
SPACE reports “’@NASA and @BoeingSpace teams set a return date of no earlier than Tuesday, June 18, for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. The additional time in orbit will allow the crew to perform a spacewalk on Thursday, June 13, while engineers complete #Starliner systems checkouts,’ NASA ISS officials said on Sunday (June 9) via X.”
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