WASHINGTON - NASA astronauts expressed their confidence in the Boeing Starliner capsule's ability to bring them home, despite ongoing thruster issues that have extended their mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) far beyond its original timeline.
Astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore, launched aboard Starliner on June 5, were scheduled for an eight-day mission but remain in space due to several propulsion system problems. Despite these setbacks, Williams assured, "I have a real good feeling in my heart that this spacecraft will bring us home, no problem."
Testing on Earth continues to address the thruster malfunctions and helium leaks. NASA's commercial crew chief Steve Stich emphasized the thorough and cautious approach to resolving these issues, ensuring the spacecraft's safety for the astronauts' return.
Boeing's Starliner must pass this final test mission to receive NASA certification for regular astronaut flights, joining SpaceX's Crew Dragon in the U.S. orbital capsule fleet.
No comments:
Post a Comment