BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — NASA and Boeing provided an update on NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test on Thursday.
▶ WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS
“We don’t have a major announcement today relative to a return date. We’re making great progress, but we’re not quite ready to do that,” said NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stitch.
Mission managers are still studying the helium leaks and thruster issues that cropped up during the Starliner’s first crewed flight test to the International Space Station.
Read: Judge sentences Orlando pastor to life for killing his estranged wife outside credit union
Veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have now been aboard the space station for 50 days. And they could remain for weeks more.
The Starliner can stay docked at the station for up to 90 days. Mission managers said today, they do have contingency plans if needed, but the goal is to get the crew home safely aboard the Starliner spacecraft.
Read: Report reveals ‘significant deficiencies’ at Pluris water facility in Wedgefield
The CFT mission will help NASA certify the Starliner for regular rotation missions to the ISS as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
As soon as late next week, there will be a readiness review to determine if the Starliner and its crew are ready to return.
Read: Southwest changes boarding; will have assigned seating
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2024 Cox Media Group
