NASA and Boeing have problems with the Starliner spacecraft

NASA and Boeing have decided to keep the Starliner spacecraft on the International Space Station (ISS) longer than planned, they said Friday.

This decision was made while experts are trying to solve a number of problems that may complicate their return to Earth.

Boeing Starliner launch and docking

Last Wednesday, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifted off from the U.S. Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, with a mission to carry Starliner to the ISS.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were on board.

The spacecraft managed to dock with the forward port of the Harmony module a day after launch, although more than an hour late due to the failure of five Reaction Control System (RSC) engines during approach.

Fortunately, NASA and Boeing engineers were able to get four of these boosters back online before docking.

During its stay on the ISS, new problems were identified on Starliner

Starliner was originally scheduled to undock from the ISS this Friday.

However, the return date was pushed back twice due to various factors, including repairs to faulty components, weather conditions and station scheduling issues such as spacewalks.

NASA announced that the undocking is expected to happen next Friday.

This Monday, NASA reported that five leaks were discovered in the spacecraft’s service module helium manifolds, as well as a stuck oxidizer isolation valve.

“The additional time allows the team to complete evacuation planning and operations while the spacecraft remains prepared for emergency crew reentry scenarios, all within flight rules,” NASA said.

Although Starliner was designed for missions lasting up to six months, on this particular mission it can remain docked with the ISS for a maximum of 45 days.

Rescue mission considerations

Some experts speculate that the problems discovered could lead NASA to consider conducting a rescue mission, which would be a major setback for Boeing, a company that already faces several controversies related to failures in its planes.

“The good news is that they are on the ISS, not like Apollo 13 when it tried to return home from the moon,” said Rudy Ridolfi, former commander of the space system. Ridolfi added that he “wouldn’t be surprised if someone at NASA is preparing a SpaceX Dragon capsule for a rescue mission.”