Sunita Williams Stays Positive After Delay in Boeing Starliner's Return from Space

Sunita Williams, the Indian-born NASA astronaut, shared her assurance about returning from space on Wednesday. Her message followed NASA's recent suggestion of potentially extending the Boeing Starliner's mission by 45 to 90 days.

NASA astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams expressed confidence during a live news conference from the International Space Station (ISS), saying, "I have a strong feeling that this spacecraft will bring us back home without any issues." This was the first news conference for the test crew since they docked with the ISS more than a month ago.

NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore emphasized that staying at the ISS has a clear goal: to thoroughly test the spacecraft. Wilmore and Williams were launched aboard Starliner from Florida on June 5th and docked at the ISS the following day.

"We're absolutely confident," Wilmore told reporters. “That mantra you've heard, failure is not an option."And that's why we're staying, because we're going to test it. That's what we do," Reuters quoted Wilmor as saying. During his conference, he acknowledged that an ongoing investigation by the U.S. space agency and Boeing involving thruster tests on Earth is key for their return.

All You Need To Know About Issues with Boeing Starliner:

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, on its debut mission to space, is facing technical challenges including helium leaks. The launch, originally scheduled multiple times in May and June, has been delayed as a result.

According to Reuters, after Starliner's journey to the station, five out of its 28 maneuvering thrusters experienced issues. These thrusters rely on helium gas for pressurization, but a leak occurred due to a malfunctioning propellant valve that failed to close properly.

If Boeing's test mission succeeds, it will pave the way for more spacecraft to support regular astronaut flights. Currently, SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is the only US company conducting human spaceflights with its Crew Dragon spacecraft. SpaceX's Crew Dragon has been leading the emerging market for human spaceflight, while delays in Starliner's development continue.

At NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, an investigation is underway to understand why a seal in Starliner's propulsion system allowed helium to leak out.

NASA officials say the return of Wilmore and Williams to Earth aboard Starliner hinges on the outcome of thruster tests. Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew chief, mentioned on Wednesday that they are proceeding cautiously with the testing. He noted that the results from the thruster tests in New Mexico were not as positive as anticipated.