Why NASA astronauts are delayed at the space station after Boeing Starliner launch
Two astronauts are spending extra time at the International Space Station as NASA and Boeing troubleshoot capsule problems that popped up on the way there
NEW YORK — When two veteran NASA astronauts blasted off on a test drive of Boeing's new capsule, they expected to head home from the International Space Station in a week or so.
It's now three weeks and counting for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams as NASA and Boeing troubleshoot equipment problems that popped up on the way there.
Three potential landing dates were called off and their flight home is now on hold.
This week, Boeing said the Starliner capsule's problems aren’t a concern for the return trip and «the astronauts are not stranded.”
The long-delayed test flight is the first with astronauts aboard. Boeing will eventually join SpaceX in ferrying crews to and from the space station for NASA.
A look at what's behind the extended stay:
NASA wants more time to analyze problems in the spacecraft's propulsion system, which is used to maneuver in flight. The propulsion system is attached to the capsule, but it doesn’t come back to Earth for inspection. It is ditched during reentry and burns up.
“We’re just taking a little more extra time to review all the data and also learn as much as we can while we have this service module in orbit,» Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, said at a news conference last week before the latest postponement.
The space agency also said it didn't want the departure to conflict with spacewalks. This week's spacewalk was called off after water leaked from an astronaut’s spacesuit while she was still inside the orbiting lab. Tuesday's spacewalk was still on the schedule.
Five of the capsule’s 28 thrusters went down during
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