NASA and Boeing, Stress That Astronauts, Are Not 'Stranded' on ISS.
'Newsweek' reports that two NASA astronauts remain on the International Space Station, nearly two weeks after originally being scheduled to return.
Both Suni Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore continue to wait on the ISS while NASA and Boeing engineers work to fix a number of helium leaks on the Starliner spacecraft.
Both Suni Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore continue to wait on the ISS while NASA and Boeing engineers work to fix a number of helium leaks on the Starliner spacecraft.
The Starliner, which has been delayed several times before successfully launching on June 5, experienced some thruster problems while traveling to the ISS.
.
According to NASA, the spacecraft has been , "performing well in orbit while docked to the space station.".
NASA also stressed that the astronauts are not "stranded" on the ISS as they could undock and fly home at any time.
.
The pair are being kept on the ISS past their planned return in order to , "allow mission teams time to review propulsion system data.".
We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process, Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, via 'Newsweek'.
We are letting the data drive our decision making relative to managing the small helium system leaks and thruster performance, Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, via 'Newsweek'.
Originally, Wilmore and Williams were scheduled to touch down on Earth on June 22 before the date was pushed back to June 26.
'Newsweek' reports that it took three attempts to get Starliner's first crewed mission into orbit, following years of delays and engineering issues.
