The Boeing Starliner crew currently docked with the International Space Station (ISS) have decided to extend their stay beyond the originally planned week-long mission. Although the word “stranded” may evoke feelings of hopelessness, NASA reassures us that astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams are secure and well-supplied on the International Space Station. Nevertheless, the resolution of technological problems found with the Starliner capsule is a prerequisite for their return to Earth.

Crew Flight Test (CFT), the Starliner’s first crewed trip, docked with the ISS successfully in early June. But there were some bumps in the road. Helium leaks in the spacecraft’s service module—the portion that powers the craft during flight but is not intended for return to Earth—and issues with several thrusters were discovered by the crew shortly after launch. These technical issues required a reassessment of the return schedule even though the capsule docked safely.

The Starliner program has had difficulties in the past. Software problems have dogged the capsule’s development; the most notable was an 11-hour clock glitch that hampered a 2019 unmanned test flight. Although more software issues and thruster malfunctions were resolved before the CFT mission, it seems that some glitches remain in the system.

What precisely is the issue with the Starliner, then? The main issues at hand are helium leakage and thruster performance. Investigators believe that overheating of the thrusters may be caused by the spacecraft’s position concerning the sun. Another potential contributing reason could be the flight software’s repeated firing sequence. Conversely, the helium leaks are still a bit of a mystery.

The return of the Starliner has understandably been delayed by these technical difficulties. Engineers from NASA and Boeing are testing the system to see what is causing the failures. The right course of action can only be decided upon after they have a comprehensive awareness of the issues. This can entail changing software directives or even swapping out malfunctioning thruster parts.

NASA clarifies that the crew is safe even if the return date of the Starliner is still unknown. Self-sufficient and well-stocked for its occupants, the International Space Station (ISS) is a living laboratory. Wilmore and Williams have also been in space for a long time, having lived and worked there as seasoned astronauts. They may be working with their colleagues on the ground to troubleshoot, giving their experience.

There are advantages and disadvantages to this prolonged visit. While the engineering teams working on solutions are under more strain, the delay also throws off carefully crafted mission timelines. However, this unforeseen circumstance presents a useful chance to obtain additional information regarding the Starliner’s orbital performance. With greater time, engineers may perform more thorough testing and obtain important data that could guide future spacecraft advancements.

NASA’s long-term objective of developing a strong commercial space industry depends on the Starliner program. By using both SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Boeing’s Starliner to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station, the Russian Soyuz spacecraft will be less dependent. Even while Starliner’s first crewed flight hasn’t gone exactly as planned, the information learned from these technical difficulties will be crucial to guaranteeing the capsule’s safe and dependable functioning going forward.