NASA says Boeing Starliner crew not 'stranded' in space, but has 'no date' of their return to Earth

Boeing's Starliner capsule return journey to Earth has gone on indefinite hold because of new thruster tests' pending results and the ongoing analysis of helium leaks which started during the capsule's journey to the International Space Station, stated NASA on Friday (June 28).

However, the space agency has said that Starliner commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore and his co-pilot Sunita Williams are not "stranded" in space.

"We don't have a targeted (landing) date today," said Steve Stich, who is NASA's Commercial Crew Programme manager, while speaking to the reporters during a teleconference.

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Also Read:Boeing's Starliner capsule extends ISS stay again, to assess helium system leaks & thruster performance

"We're not going to target a specific date until we get that testing completed. So essentially, it's complete the testing, complete the fault tree, bring that analysis into (the mission management team), and then have an agency-level review. And then we'll lay out the rest of the plan from undocking to landing. I think we're on a good path," he said.

What is the issue with spacecraft?

NASA and Boeing have been troubled by the Starliner's service module, which has the helium lines, thrusters and other critical systems. Itgets discarded before its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere and ends getting burnt.

Because of this, engineers will not be able to study the hardware and hence, wish to collect as much data as possible before the two astronauts go back to the Earth.

However, the extended stay of the astronauts at the space station has made it appear to many that they are stranded in orbit.

Boeing's Starliner programme manager Stich and Mark Nappi stated that this is a mischaracterisation.

Astronauts 'not in any rush to come home': NASA

"It's pretty painful to read the things that are out there. We've got a really good test flight...and it's being viewed rather negatively. We're not stuck on ISS. The crew is not in any danger, and there's no increased risk when we decide to bring Suni and Butch back to Earth," Nappi said.

Watch:NASA further delays return date of Boeing's Starliner on Earth

Stich further said that he wants "to make it very clear that Butch and Suni are not stranded in space. Our plan is to continue to return them on Starliner and return them home at the right time. We'll have a little bit more work to do to get there for the final return, but they're safe on the space station. Their spacecraft is working well, and they're enjoying their time on the space station."

“We're not in any rush to come home,” he added.

On June 5, the Starliner was launched on the first piloted test flight of the programme with a known helium leak. The other four leaks happened when the ship was headed to the space station.

(With inputs from agencies)