A glimmer of optimism has emerged from recent in-orbit testing of the spacecraft, but NASA’s impending launch provides little time for the Starliner to return.
Concerns have naturally been aroused by the enormous delay in the crew’s return to Earth, despite authorities’ repeated insistence that Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, the astronauts on NASA’s Crew Flight Test, are not marooned in space. This is because Boeing’s Starliner spaceship launched them. The Starliner CS-100, which was originally supposed to return on June 14, was launched on an Atlas C rocket and has been docked at the International Space Station (ISS) since June 6.
The team has, however, remained in orbit longer than anticipated since the present plans were modified to allow for further testing that is not feasible on Earth.
In addition to NASA’s continuous assurances that the astronauts are not trapped in space and may return whenever necessary, there appears to be good news in the works.
Successful NASA tests offer a ray of hope for Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s Earth return
The Boeing Starliner has successfully passed a critical in-space test on Saturday, following the depressing setbacks caused by helium leaks and rocket problems. The Starliner crew tested the spacecraft’s helium system and performed a docked hot fire test of its Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters, according to a blog post published by Boeing on July 27. These tests yielded favorable further data that will aid in the team’s impending return to Earth.
As part of the procedure, the Crew Flight crew tested 27 of the spacecraft’s 28 thrusters.
The flight director of Starliner, Chloe Mehring, who will oversee the control crew during any prospective undocking from the ISS, said, “The integrated teams between Starliner and ISS worked extremely well together this week to finalize and safely execute the docked hotfire sequence.”
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams provided real-time comments throughout the test while they were securely on board Starliner Calypso. Both of them will take part in two undock-to-landing scenarios this coming week, according to Boeing’s official update release. While a formal landing date is not yet known, there will be undocking possibilities all through August.
Preliminary results from the July 27 #Starliner tests show all the tested thrusters are back to preflight levels based on thrust and chamber pressure.
— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) July 30, 2024
For additional details about the test: https://t.co/HZLnNZ9gcE https://t.co/4pNhaLbiZx
Apart from the aforementioned test, the Flight Test team has also examined the water systems and the internal pressure of the spacecraft; all information is being reviewed. The good reports have restored faith that the Starliner’s first crewed mission would conclude successfully and bring the crew members home, despite the many obstacles they faced.
Another NASA launch puts pressure on the Boeing Starliner’s return
That doesn’t mean, though, that pressure isn’t increasing. NASA plans to send a second team to the ISS in the upcoming weeks, allowing Wilmore and Williams’ Starliner to undock and prevent congestion. Just two of the ISS’s six docking ports are on the US side; SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavour and Boeing Starliner are the two that are presently occupying them.
Soon, NASA and SpaceX will begin the four-person Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled to launch “no earlier than August 18.” Unquestionably, the new launch has increased the stakes since it provides Boeing a limited window of opportunity to undock the Starliner. If this window is not met, there is a chance that the Starliner’s return will be delayed, which might further delay the Crew-9 mission.
NASA and SpaceX plan to launch the agency’s SpaceX #Crew9 mission to @Space_Station no earlier than Aug. 18.
— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) July 26, 2024
The international crew will lift off from @NASAKennedy's Launch Complex 39A aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft.
More: https://t.co/QQydb8Eed5 pic.twitter.com/MLjJiEcpbS
