![Two NASA astronauts say that they're confident in the Boeing Starliner's ability to get them home after testing is finished on Earth.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CLEAN_OMAHA-16-NASA-STARLINER-UPDATE_AP-IMAGES.jpg?w=1920)
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER BOEING’S STARLINER LIFTED OFF FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION–
TWO NASA ASTRONAUTS REMAIN STUCK IN SPACE AFTER A SERIES OF PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BOEING SPACECRAFT.
NOW WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO GET THEM HOME AFTER THEIR FIRST NEWS CONFERENCE IN ORBIT ABOARD THE ISS.
THE CREW SAID WEDNESDAY THEY EXPECT TO RETURN ONCE THRUSTER TESTING IS COMPLETED ON EARTH AND EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN A SAFE TRIP HOME.
[SUNITA WILLIAMS]
“I HAVE A REAL GOOD FEELING IN MY HEART THAT THIS SPACECRAFT WILL BRING US HOME.”
[BARRY “BUTCH” WILMORE]
WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING THRUSTER TESTING IN WHITE SANDS NEW MEXICO. GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS– TRYING TO REPLICATE WHAT WE SAW ON THAT FLIGHT DAY TWO WHEN WE WERE RENDEZVOUSING AND WE’RE GOING TO LEARN FROM THAT. WE’RE GOING TO INCORPORATE NEW PROCESSES, NEW PROCEDURES, THAT WE WILL EMPLOY IF NECESSARY.”
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
THE BOEING MISSION TO THE ISS SHOULD HAVE ENDED BETWEEN JUNE 18TH AND 22ND–
BUT ONGOING THRUSTER PROBLEMS AND HELIUM LEAKS HAVE KEPT THE STARLINER IN SPACE.
FIVE THRUSTERS FAILED AS THE STARLINER APPROACHED THE STATION JUNE 6TH– A DAY AFTER LIFT OFF.
FOUR HAVE SINCE BEEN BROUGHT BACK ONLINE– AND THE CREW BELIEVES THAT WILL BE ENOUGH TO GET THEM OUT OF ORBIT.
BOEING AND NASA SAY THE GROUND TESTS ARE CRUCIAL BECAUSE DURING THE LANDING PROCESS THE PART THAT CARRIES THE THRUSTERS WILL BE DISCARDED FROM THE CAPSULE.
THE HELIUM LEAKS ARE ALSO LOCATED IN THE DISPOSABLE SECTION.
THE LANDING DATE HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK TWICE BEFORE BEING POSTPONED INDEFINITELY AS TESTING CONTINUES.
NASA SAYS THE I-S-S HAS PLENTY OF SUPPLIES IN ORBIT AND ITS SCHEDULE IS RELATIVELY OPEN THROUGH MID-AUGUST. THE AGENCY SAYS THE PAIR ARE “INTEGRATED” WITH THE I-S-S CREW AND HELPING WITH MAINTENANCE TASKS.
FOR MORE UPDATES ON THE BOEING STARLINER’S RETURN HOME DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT SAN-DOT-COM.