{"id":23987,"date":"2024-08-07T23:33:25","date_gmt":"2024-08-07T15:33:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/iss-prepares-for-starliner-contingencies-and-resumption-of-evas\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T13:13:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T05:13:37","slug":"iss-prepares-for-starliner-contingencies-and-resumption-of-evas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/iss-prepares-for-starliner-contingencies-and-resumption-of-evas\/","title":{"rendered":"ISS prepares for Starliner contingencies and resumption of EVAs"},"content":{"rendered":"

The last month has been an eventful one for the Expedition 71 crew on the International Space Station and their two helpers from the Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT). It is still not known when \u2013 or even if \u2013 CFT will return to Earth with crewmembers Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, two veteran astronauts and test pilots that have been in space well beyond the initial duration of eight days envisaged when they launched into orbit on June 5.<\/p>\n

NASA is now openly talking about the contingency options, which includes potential options involving SpaceX\u2019s Dragon spacecraft, should the Agency decide Starliner will undock without its crew.<\/p>\n

For the last 62 days, the ISS has had nine crew members aboard instead of its usual seven. The CFT crew\u2019s assistance has helped the Expedition 71 crew with its regular tasks, but the extra crew members can also consume more oxygen and other resources. While various return scenarios for Starliner Calypso<\/em> are being discussed, Crew-8 is preparing to leave the Station and Crew-9 is preparing for flight.<\/p>\n

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The combined crews of Expedition 71 and Starliner CFT pose aboard ISS. (Credit: NASA)<\/p>\n

STARLINER<\/p>\n

The Starliner CFT mission\u2019s extended stay at ISS has made headlines and dominated discussion on the ground. Shortly after Calypso<\/em> docked to the Station, the mission was extended, first by one week, then another, and then longer than that. During the first days of the flight, NASA did state that the flight could be extended based on test objectives.<\/p>\n

The initially planned return date of June 14 was first moved to June 18, so that more checkouts could be done on Starliner and the Expedition 71 crew could focus on spacewalk preparations. Calypso\u2019s<\/em> return was moved to June 22 to perform a hot-fire test on seven aft thrusters as well as additional testing and checkouts.<\/p>\n

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Starliner Calypso firing its thrusters during an on orbit docked test. (Credit: NASA)<\/p>\n

The June 22 date did not hold, and neither did a new date of June 26. According to NASA, canceling the June 26 date was to allow for more data review of Calypso\u2019s<\/em> propulsion system as well as to deconflict the Starliner undocking from planned spacewalks. NASA Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich stated \u201cWe are letting the data drive our decision making relative to managing the small helium system leaks and thruster performance we observed during rendezvous and docking.\u201d<\/p>\n

As return dates came and went, and as June turned into July, there was some discussion as to what was happening with Calypso<\/em> and what the path forward might be. Updates from NASA and Boeing were sparse while sensational headlines concerning the mission were showing up in news reports. On the ground, tests were being conducted at White Sands in New Mexico related to issues with Calypso\u2019s<\/em> propulsion system.<\/p>\n

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A Starliner thruster being tested at White Sands. (Credit: NASA)<\/p>\n

During a NASA press conference on July 25, Steve Stich and Boeing\u2019s Mark Nappi discussed preliminary test results and the forward plan for additional testing. The thruster tests, which concluded on July 18, found that there was degradation of seals in the propulsion system due to exposure to nitrogen tetroxide propellant vapors, and the thruster performance closely replicated what happened on orbit. No new return date for CFT was announced, though Starliner had earlier been cleared for an emergency return home with crew if needed.<\/p>\n

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Two days later, Starliner Calypso <\/em>conducted a test firing of 27 of the spacecraft\u2019s 28 thrusters while docked to the Station. As of the time of writing there is still no return date for the CFT mission, and the results of this on-orbit test are being evaluated.<\/p>\n

At the beginning of August, Boeing stated that they remained confident in Starliner and its ability to return safely with crew while also supporting NASA\u2019s requests for additional data. CFT was initially estimated to be able to stay on orbit until mid-August if needed.<\/p>\n

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CFT astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams posing with Expedition 71 astronauts Tracy Dyson and Michael Barratt during EVA preparations. (Credit: NASA)<\/p>\n

The latest news conference on August 7 openly spoke about the potential options including SpaceX\u2019s Dragon, revolving around the delay to Crew-9\u2019s launch. Although no decision has been made, should Starliner return without its crew, options including keeping Suni and Butch on the ISS until February 2025.<\/p>\n