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Miami — The lack of a date for the return to Earth of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft’s first crewed mission after multiple delays due to a helium leak has increased speculation about other options for the return of two NASA astronauts to Earth.
The specialized media talked about a “stranded”, “trapped” mission, about the possibility of changing the mission to a rescue mission, and the idea of using the SpaceX Dragon capsule as an alternative to return the two astronauts, which would be embarrassing for Boeing.
The Starliner left Florida on June 5 for a week-long stay at the International Space Station (ISS) and returned on June 14, but technical issues have left its return pending.
Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Sunny” Williams completed 20 days aboard the space lab on Wednesday and, according to NASA, could remain there for several weeks, using that time to conduct an investigation by the federal agency.
However, NASA has remained silent on the matter in recent days, and the lack of a date, even a tentative date, for the return of the interstellar shuttle has sparked various speculations.
Boeing has also remained somewhat silent about Starliner in recent days, but the company has also been caught in the crossfire as a series of technical problems with its commercial aircraft have seriously damaged its reputation.
In addition, in recent days, federal prosecutors have recommended that the Justice Department take action against the company for failing to comply with an agreement reached in 2021 to provide compensation to the families of the victims of two air crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346. passengers.
When EFE asked a NASA spokesperson about the possible return date of the Starliner spacecraft, the agency responded with a message posted on social networks last Friday.
However, in the statement he maintained the return date of today, June 26, with no alternative, despite reports in the specialized media of another delay.
“NASA and Boeing leaders are preparing for a crewed flight test mission returning to Earth from the International Space Station on June 26 with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams,” Friday’s statement said.
He added: “This adjustment deconflicts a series of spacewalks while allowing the mission team time to review propulsion system data and evaluate any additional testing opportunities.”
On the other hand, he noted, “mission managers are evaluating future return opportunities following two spacewalks planned for June 24 (which were suspended on Monday due to a technical problem) and July 2.”
Delays are the norm in missions
Boeing’s mission problems are not new. The launch from Florida was delayed by nearly a year from its original date, and a helium leak was discovered days before takeoff.
However, the ship took off from a platform at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on June 5, and the next day it was already embedded in the Harmony module of the International Space Station, but a new helium leak appeared.
Starliner’s first crewed mission (it successfully completed an unmanned flight to the International Space Station in May 2022) was supposed to take off in July 2023, but managers announced an indefinite delay a month ago to resolve a problem with the spacecraft’s parachutes.
The mission was originally planned for 2017 but has since suffered a series of delays, costing NASA an estimated $4.2 billion.
With this mission, Boeing hopes to obtain the necessary certification to become the second provider of cargo and crew transportation to the International Space Station, just as SpaceX has already done after two private companies signed multimillion-dollar contracts with NASA.
Now, the mission’s delayed return is going through NASA’s certification process and will take place by the end of this year. If approved, Boeing plans to make its first operational trip to the International Space Station in February 2025.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has carried out 13 manned space trips with its Dragon capsule, four of which were for commercial customers and 12 of which went to the International Space Station since May 2020. A total of 50 people have been transported, including astronauts, cosmonauts and ordinary citizens. Efei
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