٠٠:٠٠:٤٦Mandatory credit: NASA TV
International Space Station Director Anthony Vareha said NASA is preparing for the unscrewed return of Boeing’s Starliner in a press conference on Wednesday.
"The joint NASA and Boeing flight control teams are deep into preparations for the undocking of Starliner," he stated. "Since the decision was made to undock uncrewed, we have been preparing through simulations, procedure reviews – and that's with the flight control team on the ground as well as the crew on orbit – for the activities that are coming in the next few days."
En route to the ISS in June, Boeing identified failed thrusters and helium leaks that were affecting the capsule’s propulsion system. Last month, NASA announced that the spacecraft would return without a crew on board, leaving astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded in space until February.
Playing it safe, the agency decided to get the Starliner away as fast as possible from the ISS to avoid further complications. In the meantime, the two astronauts will prolong what was originally an eight-day trip until the arrival of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule.
Boeing is no stranger to controversy, facing criticism earlier this year after one of its 737 Max 9 passenger jets lost a rear door plug mid-flight, prompting officials to ground all similarly configured jets for weeks.
Lost in space - ISS director says NASA, Boeing 'deep in preparations' to bring stricken Starliner home
International Space Station Director Anthony Vareha said NASA is preparing for the unscrewed return of Boeing’s Starliner in a press conference on Wednesday.
"The joint NASA and Boeing flight control teams are deep into preparations for the undocking of Starliner," he stated. "Since the decision was made to undock uncrewed, we have been preparing through simulations, procedure reviews – and that's with the flight control team on the ground as well as the crew on orbit – for the activities that are coming in the next few days."
En route to the ISS in June, Boeing identified failed thrusters and helium leaks that were affecting the capsule’s propulsion system. Last month, NASA announced that the spacecraft would return without a crew on board, leaving astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded in space until February.
Playing it safe, the agency decided to get the Starliner away as fast as possible from the ISS to avoid further complications. In the meantime, the two astronauts will prolong what was originally an eight-day trip until the arrival of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule.
Boeing is no stranger to controversy, facing criticism earlier this year after one of its 737 Max 9 passenger jets lost a rear door plug mid-flight, prompting officials to ground all similarly configured jets for weeks.
Mandatory credit: NASA TV
International Space Station Director Anthony Vareha said NASA is preparing for the unscrewed return of Boeing’s Starliner in a press conference on Wednesday.
"The joint NASA and Boeing flight control teams are deep into preparations for the undocking of Starliner," he stated. "Since the decision was made to undock uncrewed, we have been preparing through simulations, procedure reviews – and that's with the flight control team on the ground as well as the crew on orbit – for the activities that are coming in the next few days."
En route to the ISS in June, Boeing identified failed thrusters and helium leaks that were affecting the capsule’s propulsion system. Last month, NASA announced that the spacecraft would return without a crew on board, leaving astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded in space until February.
Playing it safe, the agency decided to get the Starliner away as fast as possible from the ISS to avoid further complications. In the meantime, the two astronauts will prolong what was originally an eight-day trip until the arrival of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule.
Boeing is no stranger to controversy, facing criticism earlier this year after one of its 737 Max 9 passenger jets lost a rear door plug mid-flight, prompting officials to ground all similarly configured jets for weeks.