Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft was originally expected to return to Earth on Friday after launching on June 5 from Florida with its first crew of two NASA astronauts. This mission is a key test before the US space agency can certify the Starliner for routine flights.
NASA officials in Houston are faced with a variety of contingencies in planning the Starliner’s return: repairs to malfunctioning components on the Starliner, weather conditions and ISS scheduling issues such as spacewalks by other astronauts on the station. Additional changes to the Starliner’s return date may be announced during its mission.
As of Tuesday, mission officials plan for the Starliner to return on June 18. After about six hours, the spacecraft would land at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, Willcox Playa in Arizona, or some other similar predetermined location, depending on weather conditions.
NASA Deputy Program Manager for the ISS Dina Contella told reporters on Tuesday that NASA had discovered a new problem with a valve on the Starliner. A NASA blog posted on Monday mentions additional helium leaks from the Starliner’s propulsion system, in addition to the čfour thatć identified during a 24-hour journey to the space station last week.
During that flight, five of its 28 maneuvering thrusters failed, but NASA and Boeing were able to repair four before docking at the orbital laboratory.
Starliner can be docked to the ISS for up to 45 days, NASA officials said.