NASA to conduct 'ground testing' again for Boeing Starliner, while the capsule is stuck in space with Sunita Williams Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar Extended Mission Boeing's Starliner capsule, stuck in space on its first astronaut mission, is likely to stay in orbit beyond 45 days, NASA reported. Current Status Launched on June 5, Starliner is docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on an indefinite mission extension. Investigating Issues NASA and Boeing are examining why Starliner's reaction control system (RCS) thrusters had issues before docking with the ISS on June 6, and why several helium leaks have occurred in the capsule. Ongoing Tests Ground testing of the thrusters will begin soon, potentially as early as July 2. Previous in-orbit tests on June 15 did not identify the root cause of the problems, although some progress was noted. Thruster Performance The RCS issues have stabilized according to NASA, with only one thruster offline for undocking . Impact on Future Missions The findings from this extended mission will inform design changes for future six-month ISS rotation missions that Starliner may perform starting in 2025. Battery Performance Starliner is rated for up to 210 days in orbit during operational missions. Current battery performance is being evaluated, and the risk for an extended mission is considered manageable. Crew Activities Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are supporting ISS tasks while awaiting ground test results. Their work includes ISS maintenance and preparations for future missions. Historical Context This is Starliner’s third space mission and its first with astronauts. Previous uncrewed missions had mixed results, with the first failing to reach the ISS in 2019 and the second succeeding in 2022 but experiencing some thruster issues. NASA aims to understand and resolve these recurring issues for future missions. Related Stories