Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft recently docked with the International Space Station, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. However, it remains unclear when exactly it will be able to undock and return the astronauts to Earth.
Engineers have discovered a total of five small helium leaks in the spacecraft’s service module. Helium is used in the thruster systems. The leaks are causing delays in the undocking and return.
NASA has extended the astronauts’ mission onboard the ISS by four days, to no earlier than June 18th, to allow more time for Boeing to assess the impacts of the leaks.
Boeing has faced many delays and issues with Starliner’s development over the years. This latest problem adds uncertainty around its viability for providing reliable crew transportation to the ISS.
While docked, the spacecraft has enough helium reserves despite the leaks. Engineers are conducting checkouts and the astronauts will perform a spacewalk. But safe return of the crew remains the key outstanding objective.
Source: futurism
