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‘Good feeling in heart’: NASA’s Sunita Williams shows confidence in Boeing Starliner, says it will bring her home safely

Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar

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Confident Return on Boeing Starliner

US astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams on Wednesday expressed confidence in returning home on the Boeing Starliner despite ongoing technical issues. Williams stated she felt assured the spacecraft would bring them back safely.

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Launch and Extended Stay

Wilmore and Williams launched on June 5 aboard the Boeing Starliner, docking at the International Space Station (ISS) the following day. Originally planned as a week-long mission, their stay was extended due to thruster malfunctions and helium leaks.

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No Set Return Date

While no specific return date has been set, NASA officials indicated a potential late July timeline for their return. Engineering teams are conducting further simulations to address the spacecraft’s technical issues.

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Maintaining Faith in Starliner

During a live press call from the ISS, Wilmore and Williams reiterated their trust in the Starliner team and spacecraft. Williams highlighted their ongoing productive activities on the ISS, including performing scientific experiments and maintenance tasks.

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Astronauts Belief 

When asked if they still trusted the Starliner team and the spacecraft, mission commander Wilmore stated that they are absolutely confident. “I have a real good feeling in my heart that the spacecraft will bring us home, no problem,” added Sunita Williams. 

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Technical Issues and Investigations

The mission faced several challenges, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions. Engineers are investigating these issues, with potential causes ranging from debris in the propulsion system to inappropriate seal sizes.

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Helium Leak Concerns

Helium leaks, while not posing combustion risks, impact the pressure in the propulsion system. The leaks identified during the flight require further examination to ensure safe operation.

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Thruster Malfunctions

Some of Starliner’s fine manoeuvring thrusters failed during the docking approach, delaying the process. Engineers are working to understand why the craft’s computer deselected these thrusters and to prevent overheating during operations.

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Emergency Preparedness

Despite the issues, NASA and Boeing affirm that Starliner could still fly home in an emergency. They emphasized that the more powerful thrusters required for the deorbit burn remain unaffected.

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Alternative Return Options

While NASA’s primary plan is for Wilmore and Williams to return on Starliner, the agency has not ruled out the possibility of using a SpaceX Crew Dragon if necessary. This decision comes amidst Boeing’s ongoing challenges and competition with SpaceX in the crewed spaceflight sector.