Boeing's first manned spacecraft Starliner was supposed to return eight days after leaving Earth on June 5. But it is still docked at the International Space Station ISS and NASA's astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Suni Williams are still on board.
Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang made his first flight with Williams. According to him, the astronauts were aware that the space journey could be extended.
Most people want to stay longer, he tells TT.
If you plan to be up for half a year and after four months find out it will be another half year, it's not certain that everyone will appreciate it. But I don't think these two are particularly worried.
Accident-prone test flight
The test flight of Starliner to ISS was made after years of delays. But during the journey, the spacecraft suffered a helium leak and several steering rockets stopped functioning.
The return journey has since been postponed several times.
The problems have led competitor Space X to postpone a space journey that would take four astronauts to ISS to at least September 24. The company is investigating whether to send up only two astronauts to be able to take Williams and Wilmore with them. The return journey is estimated to take place in February 2025 at the earliest.
For the astronauts' part, there is "ample margin" on ISS when it comes to food and the like, according to Fuglesang. The extended stay will be an opportunity to continue working.
It was not unthinkable that it would be like this. So in the backup plan, they have things for them to do if they were to stay longer.
Tough setback
NASA's stance has been that the return journey should take place with Starliner, but new information is expected in August. One scenario is that Starliner returns empty before Space X arrives. This would be the biggest setback so far for Boeing's space program.
In 2014, Boeing and Space X received billion-dollar contracts to deliver spacecraft to ISS. Since Space X succeeded with its first trip in 2020, the company has transported dozens of people.
Boeing's investment, on the other hand, has been marked by delays and setbacks.
Intensive discussions are underway in NASA's leadership about how to bring the astronauts home. A concern is that the cause of the problems with the steering rockets has not been found, which makes a return journey with Starliner risky, according to a source to CNBC.
