The Starliner rocket that carried two astronauts to the International Space Station is now stuck in space&nbsp;and its return to Earth has been postponed until at least July 2. A report has emerged saying that the US space agency NASA knew before the launch of a helium leak but it was deemed too minor to pose a safety risk. The situation worsened as the spacecraft developed four additional helium leaks after it reached the orbit, rendering one thruster unusable. It means that the return trip of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will not materialise unless all safety checks have been done.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: NASA scientists fix Voyager 1 from 30 billion kilometres away

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CBS reported that NASA will further analyse and review the leaks and the thruster. The US space agency will conduct re-entry tests before determining the next return date. The report said the delay in return is unlikely to extend beyond July 2.

<h2>Are Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams safe?</h2>

Amid all speculations and rumours, NASA has stressed that both astronauts in the spacecraft are safe and not stranded. They are cleared to undock and return home at any time if any malfunction or problem arises.

But the situation might not be that easy for Boeing officials on Earth. The Starliner fiasco comes as salt into the company's wounds, as it is already facing criticism for high-profile malfunctions of its planes over the past year.

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At least 20 whistleblowers have highlighted issues with the company's safety and quality standards and expressed concerns.

<h2>NASA 'taking its time' </h2>

Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said, "We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process."

He said they make decisions based on data. They will do a review at the agency level like they did before when NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 mission returned from space after two months.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Starliner rocket that carried two astronauts to the International Space Station is now stuck in space and its return to Earth has been postponed until at least July 2.

The Starliner rocket that carried two astronauts to the International Space Station is now stuck in space and its return to Earth has been postponed until at least July 2. A report has emerged saying that the US space agency NASA knew before the launch of a helium leak but it was deemed too minor to pose a safety risk. The situation worsened as the spacecraft developed four additional helium leaks after it reached the orbit, rendering one thruster unusable. It means that the return trip of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will not materialise unless all safety checks have been done. Watch: Gravitas: NASA scientists fix Voyager 1 from 30 billion kilometres away × CBS reported that NASA will further analyse and review the leaks and the thruster. The US space agency will conduct re-entry tests before determining the next return date. The report said the delay in return is unlikely to extend beyond July 2. Are Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams safe? Amid all speculations and rumours, NASA has stressed that both astronauts in the spacecraft are safe and not stranded. They are cleared to undock and return home at any time if any malfunction or problem arises. But the situation might not be that easy for Boeing officials on Earth. The Starliner fiasco comes as salt into the company's wounds, as it is already facing criticism for high-profile malfunctions of its planes over the past year. Also read: NASA`s HiRISE camera captures image of phobos, Mars` `space potato` Moon At least 20 whistleblowers have highlighted issues with the company's safety and quality standards and expressed concerns. NASA 'taking its time' Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said, "We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process." He said they make decisions based on data. They will do a review at the agency level like they did before when NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 mission returned from space after two months. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA ignored helium leak before Starliner launch, leaving astronauts now stuck in space

Boeing and NASA said on Sunday that their teams are preparing to launch the new Starliner space capsule on June 5 after scrubbing its inaugural test flight launch attempt on Saturday.

The Starliner capsule had stood ready for blast-off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday before a ground system computer triggered an automatic abort command that shut down the launch sequence.

NASA said its teams worked overnight to assess the ground support equipment at the launch pad that encountered issues during the countdown and identified an issue with a ground power supply within one of the chassis which provides power to a subset of computer cards controlling various system functions.

The chassis containing the faulty ground power unit was removed, visually inspected, and replaced with a spare chassis, the space agency said.

The CST-200 Starliner's first crewed voyage to the International Space Station (ISS), with two astronauts aboard, remains a key milestone for Boeing as it scrambles to gain a greater share of lucrative NASA business now dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Once launched, the Starliner is expected to arrive at the space station after a flight of about 24 hours and dock with the orbiting research outpost some 250 miles (402 km) above Earth.

Boeing and NASA said on Sunday that their teams are preparing to launch the new Starliner space capsule on June 5 after scrubbing its inaugural test flight launch attempt on Saturday.

Boeing and NASA said on Sunday that their teams are preparing to launch the new Starliner space capsule on June 5 after scrubbing its inaugural test flight launch attempt on Saturday. The Starliner capsule had stood ready for blast-off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday before a ground system computer triggered an automatic abort command that shut down the launch sequence. NASA said its teams worked overnight to assess the ground support equipment at the launch pad that encountered issues during the countdown and identified an issue with a ground power supply within one of the chassis which provides power to a subset of computer cards controlling various system functions. The chassis containing the faulty ground power unit was removed, visually inspected, and replaced with a spare chassis, the space agency said. The CST-200 Starliner's first crewed voyage to the International Space Station (ISS), with two astronauts aboard, remains a key milestone for Boeing as it scrambles to gain a greater share of lucrative NASA business now dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX. Once launched, the Starliner is expected to arrive at the space station after a flight of about 24 hours and dock with the orbiting research outpost some 250 miles (402 km) above Earth.

Boeing, NASA target June 5 for Starliner's debut crew flight

Boeing’s eagerly anticipated maiden crewed launch of the Starliner spacecraft has faced yet another setback.&nbsp;US space agency NASA on Thursday (May 22) announced that the mission, piloted by Indian-origin Sunita Williams to the International Space Station (ISS) and originally slated for May 7, is now rescheduled for June.

The teams are presently working towards a launch opportunity at 12:25 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 1, with additional opportunities on June 2, June 5, and June 6.

A helium leak on the Starliner's service module had impeded the spacecraft's first mission to space carrying humans and pushed back the launch with successive delays.

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The postponement was necessary to allow engineering teams to assess and address the helium leak, which was specifically traced to a flange on a single reaction control system thruster.

NASA in a statement said that mission managers from NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) continue to evaluate a path forward towards launching the Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) to the International Space Station (ISS).

The Crewed Flight Test will see NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore embarking on their journey to space aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

It will be the third space mission for Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, having 50 hours and 40 minutes of total cumulative spacewalk time, considered the second highest among female astronauts.

<h2>Significance of the Crewed Flight Test (CFT)</h2>

Following the retirement of NASA’s space shuttle programme, the agency enlisted the services of two private companies in September 2014, SpaceX and Boeing, to develop spacecraft for crewed missions to the ISS.

These integrated spacecraft, rockets and associated systems will carry up to four astronauts on NASA missions, maintaining a space station crew of seven to maximise time dedicated to scientific research in the orbiting laboratory.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft mission is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which is working with the US aerospace industry through a public-private partnership to launch astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from US soil.

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Boeing’s Crew Test Flight holds particular significance, as it is the final test flight before the US space agency can certify the Starliner as reliable for routine missions to and from the ISS.

The Starliner spacecraft will be catapulted into space on an Atlas 5 rocket of the rocket company United Launch Alliance from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will remain docked at the orbiting laboratory for about two weeks to evaluate the new spacecraft and its systems before returning to Earth in the Western United States.

<h2>‘Houston, we have a problem’: Recurrent delays thwart the launch</h2>

Mission managers of the Boeing Starliner's CFT called off the mission on May 7, just two hours before the scheduled launch due to a valve glitch in the Atlas 5 rocket's upper stage. Boeing said in its statement that the valve was successfully replaced on May 11 and tested to confirm it was working properly.

Later on May 14, NASA announced that the CFT mission scheduled for May 17 had been pushed to no later than May 21 due to what it described as a "small helium leak" in the spacecraft's service module.

On May 17, however, the space agency said that the launch was further pushed back to May 25.

The current delay to June marks the fourth postponement of the mission.

"There has been a great deal of exceptional analysis and testing over the last two weeks by the joint NASA, Boeing, and ULA teams to replace the Centaur Self Regulating Valve and troubleshoot the Starliner Service Module helium manifold leak," said Steve Stich, manager of the NASA Commercial Crew Program.

"It has been important that we take our time to understand all the complexities of each issue including the redundant capabilities of the Starliner propulsion system and any implications to our Interim Human Rating Certification, he said in a statement issued by the US space agency.

"We will launch Butch and Suni on this test mission after the entire community has reviewed the teams' progress and flight rationale at the upcoming Delta Agency Flight Test Readiness Review," he said.

Both Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore continue practising in Starliner simulators and the crew that remains quarantined will fly back to NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida closer to the new launch date, the space agency said.

<h2>Boeing’s credibility under question</h2>

Boeing has encountered numerous delays and budget overruns in the Starliner programme. Despite its ambitious goals, the programme has struggled to meet its deadlines and remains over budget by approximately $1.5 billion.

The aviation company has also been under scrutiny following two fatal crashes of their 737 MAX jets in 2018 and 2019. These accidents raised questions about the plane’s safety and led to a grounding of the model worldwide.

In the last few months, more than a dozen near-miss incidents were reported in Boeing aircraft as well. 
More recently, the deaths of two whistleblowers, John Barnett and Joshua Dean, who raised concerns about Boeing’s manufacturing practices, have added another layer of complexity to the situation.

(With inputs from agencies)

Boeing’s eagerly anticipated maiden crewed launch of the Starliner spacecraft has faced yet another setback. US space agency NASA on Thursday (May 22) announced that the mission, piloted by Indian-origin Sunita Williams to the International Space Station (ISS) and originally slated for May 7, is now rescheduled for June.

Boeing’s eagerly anticipated maiden crewed launch of the Starliner spacecraft has faced yet another setback. US space agency NASA on Thursday (May 22) announced that the mission, piloted by Indian-origin Sunita Williams to the International Space Station (ISS) and originally slated for May 7, is now rescheduled for June. The teams are presently working towards a launch opportunity at 12:25 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 1, with additional opportunities on June 2, June 5, and June 6. A helium leak on the Starliner's service module had impeded the spacecraft's first mission to space carrying humans and pushed back the launch with successive delays. Also read | ‘Beam me up’: Mysterious pillars of light in Japan’s night sky spark alien frenzy. UFO kidnapping humans? The postponement was necessary to allow engineering teams to assess and address the helium leak, which was specifically traced to a flange on a single reaction control system thruster. NASA in a statement said that mission managers from NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) continue to evaluate a path forward towards launching the Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) to the International Space Station (ISS). The Crewed Flight Test will see NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore embarking on their journey to space aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. It will be the third space mission for Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, having 50 hours and 40 minutes of total cumulative spacewalk time, considered the second highest among female astronauts. Significance of the Crewed Flight Test (CFT) Following the retirement of NASA’s space shuttle programme, the agency enlisted the services of two private companies in September 2014, SpaceX and Boeing, to develop spacecraft for crewed missions to the ISS. These integrated spacecraft, rockets and associated systems will carry up to four astronauts on NASA missions, maintaining a space station crew of seven to maximise time dedicated to scientific research in the orbiting laboratory. Boeing's Starliner spacecraft mission is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which is working with the US aerospace industry through a public-private partnership to launch astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from US soil. Also read | Singapore Airlines horror: What is clear air turbulence and how is climate change making it worse? Boeing’s Crew Test Flight holds particular significance, as it is the final test flight before the US space agency can certify the Starliner as reliable for routine missions to and from the ISS. The Starliner spacecraft will be catapulted into space on an Atlas 5 rocket of the rocket company United Launch Alliance from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will remain docked at the orbiting laboratory for about two weeks to evaluate the new spacecraft and its systems before returning to Earth in the Western United States. ‘Houston, we have a problem’: Recurrent delays thwart the launch Mission managers of the Boeing Starliner's CFT called off the mission on May 7, just two hours before the scheduled launch due to a valve glitch in the Atlas 5 rocket's upper stage. Boeing said in its statement that the valve was successfully replaced on May 11 and tested to confirm it was working properly. Later on May 14, NASA announced that the CFT mission scheduled for May 17 had been pushed to no later than May 21 due to what it described as a "small helium leak" in the spacecraft's service module. On May 17, however, the space agency said that the launch was further pushed back to May 25. The current delay to June marks the fourth postponement of the mission. "There has been a great deal of exceptional analysis and testing over the last two weeks by the joint NASA, Boeing, and ULA teams to replace the Centaur Self Regulating Valve and troubleshoot the Starliner Service Module helium manifold leak," said Steve Stich, manager of the NASA Commercial Crew Program. "It has been important that we take our time to understand all the complexities of each issue including the redundant capabilities of the Starliner propulsion system and any implications to our Interim Human Rating Certification, he said in a statement issued by the US space agency. "We will launch Butch and Suni on this test mission after the entire community has reviewed the teams' progress and flight rationale at the upcoming Delta Agency Flight Test Readiness Review," he said. Both Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore continue practising in Starliner simulators and the crew that remains quarantined will fly back to NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida closer to the new launch date, the space agency said. Boeing’s credibility under question Boeing has encountered numerous delays and budget overruns in the Starliner programme. Despite its ambitious goals, the programme has struggled to meet its deadlines and remains over budget by approximately $1.5 billion. The aviation company has also been under scrutiny following two fatal crashes of their 737 MAX jets in 2018 and 2019. These accidents raised questions about the plane’s safety and led to a grounding of the model worldwide. In the last few months, more than a dozen near-miss incidents were reported in Boeing aircraft as well. More recently, the deaths of two whistleblowers, John Barnett and Joshua Dean, who raised concerns about Boeing’s manufacturing practices, have added another layer of complexity to the situation. (With inputs from agencies)

Boeing Starliner’s debut crew launch postponed again, Sunita Williams’ 3rd space mission deferred to June

Just two hours before blast off, the long-awaited test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was called off over a technical glitch with the Atlas V rocket.

The launch has been postponed for at least 24 hours because of an issue with the Atlas V rocket that was being readied to launch the new astronaut capsule to orbit on Monday&nbsp;(May 6)&nbsp;night.

<h2>The glitch</h2>

As per Reuters, the two-member crew, consisting of NASA astronauts 61-year-old Barry "Butch" Wilmore, 61, and 58-year-old Sunita "Suni" Williams, had been strapped into their seats aboard the spacecraft for about an hour before launch activities were suspended.

The issue arose with the Atlas rocket's second-stage activities.

Also&nbsp;read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/lost-in-space-satellite-missing-since-1990s-located-in-earths-orbit-how-can-someone-lose-a-satellite-717732">'Lost in space': Satellite missing since 1990s located in Earth's orbit. How can someone lose a satellite?</a>

While it is not clear how long fixing the glitch would take, the next available launch windows for the mission are Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights.

The flight would mark the first crewed voyage to space using an Atlas rocket since the launch vehicles first sent astronauts on orbital flights for NASA's Mercury programme in the 1960s.

<h2>Is the delay a sign that the mission is in danger?</h2>

Not necessarily, it is not uncommon for countdowns to be halted at the 11th hour and for launches to be delayed for days, and at times weeks over minor glitches. This is especially true for a new spacecraft flying humans for the first time.

Furthermore, this mission is of utmost importance, as its success would pave the way for Starliner's six further planned missions for NASA.

<h2>The ambitious Boeing-Starliner&nbsp;mission</h2>

Previously, after a failed mission in 2019, the gumdrop-shaped capsule completed an uncrewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This is the first time it would be transporting humans to the orbital laboratory.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/boeing-starliner-to-launch-first-crewed-mission-how-and-when-to-watch-718278">Sunita Williams goes to space again with Boeing Starliner's launch of first crewed mission: How to watch</a>

Once launched, following a flight of about 26 hours, the capsule will arrive at the space station and dock with the orbiting research outpost some 250 miles (402.34 kilometres) above Earth. There, the resident ISS crew, currently comprising four US astronauts and three Russian cosmonauts, will greet Wilmore, the designated commander of the flight, and Williams, the pilot.

The two astronauts are expected to remain at the space station for about a week. After that, they are to ride the Starliner back to Earth for a parachute and airbag-assisted landing in the US Desert Southwest — another first.

(With inputs from agencies)

Just two hours before blast off, the long-awaited test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was called off over a technical glitch with the Atlas V rocket. The launch has been postponed for at least 24 hours because of an issue with the Atlas V rocket that was being readied to launch the new astronaut capsule to orbit on Monday (May 6) night.

Just two hours before blast off, the long-awaited test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was called off over a technical glitch with the Atlas V rocket. The launch has been postponed for at least 24 hours because of an issue with the Atlas V rocket that was being readied to launch the new astronaut capsule to orbit on Monday (May 6) night. The glitch As per Reuters, the two-member crew, consisting of NASA astronauts 61-year-old Barry "Butch" Wilmore, 61, and 58-year-old Sunita "Suni" Williams, had been strapped into their seats aboard the spacecraft for about an hour before launch activities were suspended. The issue arose with the Atlas rocket's second-stage activities. Also read | 'Lost in space': Satellite missing since 1990s located in Earth's orbit. How can someone lose a satellite? While it is not clear how long fixing the glitch would take, the next available launch windows for the mission are Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights. The flight would mark the first crewed voyage to space using an Atlas rocket since the launch vehicles first sent astronauts on orbital flights for NASA's Mercury programme in the 1960s. Is the delay a sign that the mission is in danger? Not necessarily, it is not uncommon for countdowns to be halted at the 11th hour and for launches to be delayed for days, and at times weeks over minor glitches. This is especially true for a new spacecraft flying humans for the first time. Furthermore, this mission is of utmost importance, as its success would pave the way for Starliner's six further planned missions for NASA. The ambitious Boeing-Starliner mission Previously, after a failed mission in 2019, the gumdrop-shaped capsule completed an uncrewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This is the first time it would be transporting humans to the orbital laboratory. Also read | Sunita Williams goes to space again with Boeing Starliner's launch of first crewed mission: How to watch Once launched, following a flight of about 26 hours, the capsule will arrive at the space station and dock with the orbiting research outpost some 250 miles (402.34 kilometres) above Earth. There, the resident ISS crew, currently comprising four US astronauts and three Russian cosmonauts, will greet Wilmore, the designated commander of the flight, and Williams, the pilot. The two astronauts are expected to remain at the space station for about a week. After that, they are to ride the Starliner back to Earth for a parachute and airbag-assisted landing in the US Desert Southwest — another first. (With inputs from agencies)

From countdown to letdown: Sunita Williams' third trip to space delayed as Starliner launch is scrubbed