NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate Starliner’s propulsion system and the five small helium leaks in the spacecraft’s service module that has delayed its departure from the International Space Station (ISS).
As part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams lifted off on June 5, 2024, on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on an end-to-end test of the Boeing-built Starliner system. The crew docked to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module on June 6.
Initially, Wilmore and Williams were due to depart from the ISS on June 14. This was delayed until June 26, then July 2, and is now on indefinite hold while the spacecraft’s technical problems are resolved.
In the meantime, since their arrival, Wilmore and Williams have completed half of all hands-on research time conducted aboard the space station, allowing their crewmates to prepare for the departure of Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft.
NASA says it is collating as much data as possible while Starliner is docked at the International Space Station. Once all the necessary ground testing and associated data analysis is complete, NASA and Boeing will conduct an agency-level review before deciding on a return date from the ISS.
NASA and Boeing will provide an update on the situation on July 11 at 2.30 a.m. (AEST). The update will stream live on the agency’s website.
