Boeing Starliner, Crew Will Return to Earth No Earlier Than June 26

Helium leaks, failing thrusters, and a faulty valve component are extending NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams’ stay on the International Space Station.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 05:00 PM ET

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Boeing’s Starliner docks with the International Space Station’s Harmony module during an uncrewed flight test in 2022. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

Boeing's Starliner capsule, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, has had its return from the International Space Station (ISS) delayed until at least June 26, significantly extending their planned eight-day mission.
The delay allows NASA and Boeing to investigate several technical issues with the Starliner's service module, primarily five helium leaks and five malfunctioning aft reaction control system (RCS) thrusters.
A faulty oxidizer isolation valve is also among the problems, and teams are studying potential connections between the helium leaks and thruster performance.
The extended stay on the ISS provides an opportunity for further in-orbit testing and data collection, which will inform necessary modifications before Starliner can be certified for regular NASA missions.

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Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner and the crew of the capsule’s inaugural crew flight test (CFT), NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, will return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) no earlier than June 26, Starliner teams said during a news conference Tuesday.

Wilmore and Williams began their sojourn to the ISS on June 5 with plans for an eight-day stay but will now spend a minimum of three weeks aboard the orbital laboratory.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.