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Astronauts stranded in space due to multiple issues with Boeing's Starliner — and the window for a return flight is closing
Live Science ^ | 6/24/24 | Ben Turner

Posted on 06/24/2024 7:41:11 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom

Editor's note: NASA announced on Friday that Starliner's troubleshooting has been extended for a third time, meaning that the astronauts will stay aboard the International Space Station indefinitely until some time in July.


Two NASA astronauts who rode to orbit on Boeing's Starliner are stranded in space aboard the ISS after engineers discovered numerous issues with the Boeing spacecraft. Teams on the ground are now racing to assess Starliner's status.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were originally scheduled to return to Earth on June 13 after a week on the ISS, but their stay has been extended for a third time due to the ongoing issues.

...Boeing's Starliner capsule successfully blasted off...on June 5. But during the 25-hour flight, engineers discovered five separate helium leaks to the spacecraft's thruster system.

...to give engineers time to troubleshoot the faults, NASA has announced it will push back the perilous return flight, extending the crew's stay on the space station to at least three weeks.

"We've learned that our helium system is not performing as designed," Mark Nappi, Boeing's Starliner program manager, said at a news conference on June 18. "Albeit manageable, it's still not working like we designed it. So we've got to go figure that out."

...NASA and Boeing engineers assess the vital hardware issues aboard the vessel, including five helium leaks to the system that pressurizes the spacecraft's propulsion system, and five thruster failures to its reaction-control system.

After powering the thrusters up on June 15, engineers found that most of these issues appeared to be at least partially resolved, but their exact causes remain unknown. However, the Harmony module's limited fuel means Starliner can only stay docked for 45 days, so the window for a safe return flight is narrowing.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: affirmativeaction; astronauts; astronautsstranded; boeing; dei; die; diversity; nasa; oops; starliner; stranded; woke
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To: Magnum44

Beat me to it!


21 posted on 06/24/2024 7:56:48 AM PDT by rdcbn1
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Boeing makes flying death traps, but at least their work force is diverse.


22 posted on 06/24/2024 7:56:57 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: Magnum44

23 posted on 06/24/2024 7:57:00 AM PDT by Tom Tetroxide
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Some are calling it the Stuckliner.

I’m calling it the Leakliner.

Then some are calling it the Stuckleaker.


24 posted on 06/24/2024 7:58:14 AM PDT by Tom Tetroxide
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Time to bust out the movie “Marooned” and watch it again.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marooned_(1969_film)


25 posted on 06/24/2024 8:00:03 AM PDT by Clay Moore (My pistol identifies as a cordless hole punch. )
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Send up the A team.....SPACEX


26 posted on 06/24/2024 8:01:29 AM PDT by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: Reno89519
SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the rescue!

Need a ride?


27 posted on 06/24/2024 8:02:29 AM PDT by wildcard_redneck (He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.)
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To: Tom Tetroxide

If they keep mucking about, they’re gonna have to call it the GHOST liner.


28 posted on 06/24/2024 8:02:36 AM PDT by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
There’s a reason why the Russians have been using the same ancient rocket and capsule designs for space missions for 50+ years.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

29 posted on 06/24/2024 8:03:21 AM PDT by Alberta's Child (“Ain't it funny how the night moves … when you just don't seem to have as much to lose.”)
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To: Lazamataz

The Russians will get them home—white guys doing the heavy lifting as usual.


30 posted on 06/24/2024 8:04:13 AM PDT by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Editor’s note: NASA announced on Friday that Starliner’s troubleshooting has been extended for a third time, meaning that the astronauts will stay aboard the International Space Station indefinitely until some time in July.

well editor, which is it? “indefinitely” or “some time in July”?


31 posted on 06/24/2024 8:04:42 AM PDT by Thunder 6 (Panzer, los geht's!)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

And people still believe that we were able to put men on the moon and bring them back safely back in 1969.

LOL


32 posted on 06/24/2024 8:06:39 AM PDT by algore
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To: iamgalt

DEI isn’t mandatory here.. yet. If things go the wrong way in November, Bob Ferguson will make sure it is.


33 posted on 06/24/2024 8:07:40 AM PDT by hoagy62 (Evil won...again.)
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To: Lazamataz

Naah...Spacex will send a rescue flight up.


34 posted on 06/24/2024 8:07:46 AM PDT by 6ppc (During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act -George Orwell)
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To: Lazamataz
The Boeing rescue vehicle is already on the way...


35 posted on 06/24/2024 8:09:27 AM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Boeing =government contractor = tax money wasted!!

reminds me of movie “marooned”!


36 posted on 06/24/2024 8:09:36 AM PDT by Terry L Smith
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

I remember seeing a movie with this scenario. They get infected with an alien virus or something and they turn into aliens and the aliens eat each the humans.

In another movie they get stranded and one astronaut goes crazy and kills everybody.

Those science fiction movies were fun as a teenager, and they were always predictable.


37 posted on 06/24/2024 8:09:38 AM PDT by George J. Jetso
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To: Ann Archy; wardaddy

As of 2023, the Boeing Company’s corporate headquarters is located in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington County, Virginia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing#:~:text=As%20of%202023%2C%20the%20Boeing,Boeing%20Global%20Services%20(BGS).


38 posted on 06/24/2024 8:10:04 AM PDT by Eccl 10:2 (Prov 3:5 --- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding")
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

I am quite sure Russia or Space X could get them down.


39 posted on 06/24/2024 8:11:28 AM PDT by Saintgermain ( )
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To: nwrep
Long live DEI.

Gone are the days of white guys with buzz-cuts, in white shirts with pocket protectors and black ties managing the space program

It doesn't necessarily need to be all "white guys" but otherwise, uniformity in purpose, outlook, culture and even appearance is absolute vital to achieve large projects like this

40 posted on 06/24/2024 8:14:14 AM PDT by PGR88
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