Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore may be stuck in space this summer due to technical problems in Boeing capsule

Two astronauts from NASA, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, may be stuck in Boeing's Starliner till mid-August due to technical problems.

Both astronauts boarded the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5. The test mission was initially planned for one week. However, due to technical problems faced by the Boeing Starliner, their return has been delayed quite a few times.

The Boeing Starliner has encountered several problems, like small helium leaks and faulty thrusters, which have raised safety concerns. “All this information is going to go in a big bucket, and all the engineers are going to review it and try to see if it doesn’t point to root cause or point to some additional testing that we can do in the future to eliminate this problem once and for all,” Mark Nappi, vice-president of and program manager of Boeing's commercial crew program told the media. He believes that these hurdles will help make the Boeing Starliner more efficient.

NASA revealed on Wednesday (Jul 10)that they were still running tests to ensure smooth performance of the space capsule. NASA is confident that the Boeing Starliner is equipped with emergency evacuation provisions for the astronauts if needed.

Sunita Williams speaks to the media, says she is optimistic about her return to Earth

Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore held a press conference on July 10 from the International Space Station (ISS). "I feel confident that, if we had to, if there was a problem with the International Space Station, we would get in (the Starliner spacecraft) and we could undock, talk to our team, and figure out the best way to come home," Sunita Williams told the CNN. "I have a real good feeling in my heart that the spacecraft will bring us home, no problem," Williams added.

Watch |Starliner astronauts 'confident' on return trip, Sunita Williams & Billy Wilmore address press

Both Williams and Wilmore are optimistic about their return to Earth and said that they trust the team working towards bringing them back. They are confident that the technical skillset of the people working at NASA will bring them back safely. Wilmore said that he and Williams were enjoying the "extra" time in space and were unperturbed by the issues.

Boeing under scrutiny after Starliner faces technical problems

Earlier this year, Boeing was accused of a flawed manufacturing process for its 787 Dreamliner planes. With Boeing's Starliner also facing several technical problems, the company is under scrutiny.

Boeing's Starliner was designed to carry seven passengers for low-Earth orbit missions. The space capsule is designed to be reused 10 times with a six-month turnaround.

With the return of the astronauts at the ISS being delayed due to technical issues, Boeing is struggling to keep their image intact. There are doubts about the company's safety record and whether it maintains quality standards.

(With inputs from agencies)