Two astronauts who should have returned to Earth weeks ago are confident in Boeing’s space capsule despite recent issues. NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched on the Starliner capsule last month but faced helium leaks and thruster failures that delayed their arrival at the International Space Station and extended their stay. They may return by the end of July, pending thruster tests on Earth.
In a news conference from orbit, the astronauts expressed trust in the spacecraft and said they enjoy the extra time in space. The eight-day test flight, originally set to end on June 14, was prolonged due to thruster problems. NASA and Boeing are currently testing thrusters at White Sands Missile Range. Despite initial failures, most thrusters are now operational, and alternative engines are available if needed.
Boeing’s Mark Nappi assured that Starliner could return safely in an emergency. NASA’s Steve Stich mentioned there are no plans to use a SpaceX rescue capsule, as they aim to resolve the issues and bring the astronauts back by the end of July, ahead of a new SpaceX crew arrival in mid-August.
Source: CGTN
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