Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is presently still docked at the International Space Station after its first crewed flight, but its current situation for its anticipated return to the planet remains unknown. In several days, the Boeing Starliner would already have spent two full months since first docking to the space station in early June and bringing two NASA astronauts to orbit.
June's test flight of the Starliner was nowhere near perfect, particularly as the astronauts encountered significant problems that prompted them to manually fly it to the ISS.
Boeing Starliner Remains Docked to the ISS; Return Flight Still Unknown
(Photo : Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
Boeing announced via its latest update that several feats and tests were done regarding the Starliner spacecraft, with these essential for the upcoming return of the vessel. Remote teams from Houston's Mission Control Center and Boeing's Mission Control Center (BMCC) over at Kennedy Space Center conducted these tests.
Among some of the tests done was practicing Starliner's undocking procedure via an integrated simulation, in partnership with the International Space Station (ISS).
Part of these tests were Starliner's passengers, Commander Butch Wilmore and Pilot Suni Williams from NASA, Starliner-1 crew Commander Scott Tingle and Pilot Mike Fincke conducting it via the Boeing Mission Simulator, and Josh Kutryk, an astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) participating from Houston.
According to Boeing, its practice, preparations, refilling, and inspection of the Starliner have already been done, with the spacecraft passing the tests that are needed for its return flight. However, there are still other items on its checklist before it can clear the Starliner for its next flight.
There are still no dates confirmed by the company, but this is its next focus for the spacecraft's return.
Boeing's Starliner and What Went Wrong
The fated first launch of the Boeing Starliner is infamously known for facing significant delays and rescheduling from the company due to problems it encountered while still on the ground. However, it defied the odds in June when the company launched it using ULA's Atlas V, but it faced a helium leak while on the way to the ISS which prompted the astronauts to manually fly it.
It was initially claimed that Starliner's problems would only lead to its return flight being delayed for several days, particularly as the ground crew and astronauts who boarded the spacecraft would assess it. Previously, it was revealedby Boeing and NASA that Starliner would be returning to Earth come June 25 and landing by June 26, with the companies not being able to fulfill it.
Like when it was still on Earth, Boeing and NASA pushed back on its schedule to have the spacecraft return to the planet alongside its two astronauts who rode the spacecraft. After completing its ground tests, Starliner yet again passed the latest checks that put it closer to its fated return, but despite being cleared, there are still a lot more on its list before choosing a date for Starliner's comeback.
