Time is running out for astronauts stuck in space. NASA has delayed the return of Boeing Starliner again due to technical problems.
The Boeing Starliner, carrying two people was first set to return from the International Space Station (ISS) on June 14. It was then moved to June 26.
But now the return is delayed even more, Live Science reported.
NASA said “Mission managers are evaluating future return opportunities following the station’s two planned spacewalks on June 24 and July 2.”
This is Boeing’s first mission with a crew. The crew includes US astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.
After many delays Boeing’s Starliner capsule launched from Florida on June 5. But during the 25-hour flight engineers found five helium leaks in the spacecraft’s thruster system.
Mark Nappi, Boeing’s Starliner program manager said at a press conference “We’ve learned that our helium system is not performing as designed. Albeit manageable, it’s still not working like we designed it. So we’ve got to go figure that out.”
The Starliner spacecraft is now docked to the ISS’s Harmony module.
But the Harmony module has limited fuel so Starliner can only stay docked for 45 days. This means the time for a safe return flight is getting shorter.
