NASA: Boeing Starliner Return Delayed for 4 Days For More Studies, Review Still Ongoing

NASA's recent update announced a delay to Boeing's Starliner's much-awaited return to the planet after it has already spent two weeks docked at the International Space Station. The delay adds four more days to its stay.

The spacecraft is currently docked to the ISS, and more studies are being conducted by NASA and Boeing's team as of the moment.

The Starliner's reviews are still ongoing to assess its return to the planet, but so far, its findings are promising for its upcoming venture.

NASA: Boeing Starliner's Return Delayed for 4 More Days

NASA released a new update for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft that remains docked to the ISS, two weeks and counting, saying that it will see four more days of delay for its supposed return to the planet. It is now targeting a June 25 undocking procedure that would begin by 10:10 AM EDT, slated for Tuesday next week, and is expected to land by June 26 at 4:51 AM EDT in New Mexico.

The NASA astronauts who joined its test flight will also join the Starliner in their splashdown to the planet, with Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams boarding back to the Starliner.

It was revealed that the mission team for Boeing's Starliner is still investigating the spacecraft's different aspects, studying it, and fetching more data.

Reviews Still Ongoing for Boeing's Starliner

With the extended study and ongoing review behind the Boeing Starliner, it must await its undocking venture and re-entry to the planet.

In the two weeks since Starliner's arrival, the initial problems, including the helium leak found during its operations and the recent testing, saw lower rates when it was last turned on. Starliner's four out of five thrusters also ran normally.

Boeing Starliner's Venture

For many years, Boeing's Starliner was plagued with significant delays that hindered its operations, fulfilling its contract with NASA under the Commercial Crew program. Several issues appeared for Boeing's Starliner over the years, including issues like oxygen relief valves found to have faults, several leaks, and other problems.

For June alone, Boeing saw another early delay in the spacecraft's supposed mission to bring two astronauts to the International Space Station several days before its supposed flight. However, NASA gave Boeing two launch windows this month for the mission to continue and head for the ISS, one that will help take the Starliner to the next level for its future operations.

Fortunately, NASA and Boeing could launch the Starliner on June 6, but it was far from perfect, as it saw several mishaps along the way, including helium leaks. After spending a long stay docked to the ISS, it would add another week to its delayed undocking and return to the planet, extended yet again for four more days, with reviews now looking into the Starliner for its clearance.