KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — After weeks of testing, NASA and Boeing announced there is still no return date in sight for the two astronauts who traveled into space aboard the Boeing Starliner during a test flight. It is currently docked at the International Space Station.
What was supposed to be about a week-long mission has now lasted around 50 days. Aboard the spacecraft is native East Tennessean Butch Wilmore, alongside fellow astronaut Suni Williams.
NASA and Boeing held a press conference Thursday to give an update about the astronaut's return.
While no specific return date is in sight, NASA hopes to have them home in mid-August, said Steve Stich, Program Manager for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Hopefully, Wilmore and Williams can return on the Starliner, rather than another spacecraft, Stich said.
"[We have] been working for a number of weeks to return Butch and Suni on the Starliner. I think we're starting to close in on those final pieces of the flight rationale," he said. "We have contingency options. NASA always has contingency options."
Helium leaks and thruster failures seem to cause the delay, Stich said in the press conference. The worst-case scenario would be multiple large-scale helium leaks, but that's unlikely, Stich also said.
Despite the circumstances, Wilmore and Williams seem to be in good spirits, Stich said.
"They seem to be enjoying their time on the station. They're eager to do experiments for the station, eager to help out, eager to do maintenance when required," he said.
The two are veteran astronauts, he also said.
"They've both been long-duration crew members before. When our team talked to Butch and Suni the other day, they were in really good spirits and kind of having a good time," Stich said.
NASA and Boeing plan to conduct tests over the weekend and hope to return Wilmore and Williams safely to Earth soon.