Posted on 06/15/2024 9:40:16 AM PDT by Salman
Starliner's return to Earth is now delayed to June 22 or later, NASA announced Friday.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who embarked on the long-awaited Boeing Starliner mission June 5 and docked at the International Space Station the following day, will have to spend a little more time in orbit than originally planned.
Both astronauts were originally set to complete a full assessment of the Starliner on board the ISS in just under a week, but the mission was lengthened due to a need to collect more information about the spacecraft.
"We are continuing to understand the capabilities of Starliner to prepare for the long-term goal of having it perform a six-month docked mission at the space station," NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich said in a blog post.
This is the second delay in Starliner's return to Earth, following an announcement this week that the spacecraft would disembark from the ISS on June 18.
The return mission originally was pushed forward to give ISS astronauts more time to perform a space walk originally planned for Thursday 13, but that mission was scrubbed an hour before it started because of what astronauts said was "spacesuit discomfort."
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(Excerpt) Read more at spacedaily.com ...
😁
“Thanks anyway Boeing, but we’ve called SpaceX-Uber”.
Musk can send up a dragon 2 to return them safely
“Collect more information on the spacecraft…”
I think that means, “Find all these damned leaks.”
Just send a shuttle up to fetch the.........oh! Last one landed July 2011. What’s NASA done since? Space X keeps crankin’.
Safer to thumb a ride
The carbon fiber skin and game controller joystick would be a major red flag for me.
Well at least the CEO went down with the Sub , maybe Boeing’s CEO should take the next flight on Starliner
lmao
Or ask the Russians with the Soyuz spacecraft.
Is it possible to undock an empty spacecraft?
I don’t think there are two docking ports.
“They bought their tickets, they knew what they were getting into. I say, let ‘em crash.”
Lol! Good Airplane! reference.
I wonder if the nasa moozlum outreach effort finally paid off?
Ain’t engineering grand huh Moe.
I had the lasagna
Yes.
The ISS has four docking ports for the Russian segment and four berthing ports for the US segment. Berthing ports require a robotic arm to attach the spacecraft, while docking ports allow the spacecraft to dock autonomously.
Helium is VERY difficult to contain on Earth or in space...
“Could be serious and, their helium leaks have been numerous even before they launched!”
Yep, it’s the equivalent of taking your car on a long drive through the desert knowing that you have a coolant leak.
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