Technical Flaw in Boeing's Space Capsule Delays Return of Two NASA Astronauts

The entrapment of two American astronauts in Boeing's Starliner space capsule for several weeks longer than anticipated has once again called into question Boeing's credibility. Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore were supposed to return to Earth from the International Space Station aboard this spacecraft. The Starliner capsule docked with the space station a few weeks ago, but due to a technical fault, the flight back to Earth has not yet been made possible, and it is still unclear when they will return. A Boeing spokesperson told The Guardian, "The return date for Starliner has not yet been precisely determined and depends on the results of two spacewalks by the astronauts, the first of which took place on Monday the 4th, and the second on Tuesday, July 12." The spokesperson added, "There is no particular rush for their return as the necessary facilities for the astronauts are abundant at the International Space Station, and the timeline for their return extends until late August." The Starliner spacecraft was finally launched into space from Cape Canaveral in Florida on June 16 after two unsuccessful test flights on May 7 and June 1. This mission, a collaboration between NASA and Boeing, has resulted in about a year of delays and an additional cost of $1.5 billion. Technical flaws, including helium fuel leaks and inadequate performance of the reaction control thrusters, were identified long before the final flight. The Boeing spokesperson assured The Guardian that these two technical issues have been resolved and will not pose a problem for the Starliner's return flight to Earth. NASA and Boeing emphasize that the two American astronauts are not stranded in space and that the technical difficulties faced by Starliner do not jeopardize the mission's safety. NASA stated, "This spacecraft only requires seven hours of flight to complete its mission, and the lithium fuel currently onboard is sufficient for seventy hours of flight." Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, said at a press conference last week, "We are not in a hurry and are adhering to all relevant standards for operating this type of flight. We are reviewing and addressing the helium leak and thruster performance issues based on data collected daily, which were observed during Starliner's docking at the International Space Station." According to NASA, this spacecraft can currently fly in case of an emergency or a need for a quick return to Earth. If ultimately the Boeing Starliner is deemed unsuitable for transporting the astronauts back to Earth, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore will have to return with several other astronauts stationed at the International Space Station aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, which is currently docked on the other side of the station. The issue with Starliner is the latest in a series of safety crises in Boeing's products, which have severely damaged the company's reputation in recent years, particularly with its passenger aircraft, including the 737 Max model.