NASA and Boeing say the Starliner astronauts are “not stranded” but will remain on the ISS for several more weeks

NASA and Boeing will conduct tests on Earth over the next few weeks to understand problems with the Starliner spacecraft’s propulsion system before giving the crew the green light to return to Earth.

However, at a news conference Friday afternoon, officials insisted that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sonny Williams were not “wandering” on the ISS. “We’re in no hurry to go home,” said Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager.
Starliner had been docked with the International Space Station since June 6 and was scheduled to conduct flight tests for a total of ten days. However, on approach to the orbital laboratory, the spacecraft encountered problems with its five engines and a known helium leak appeared to worsen. Since then, NASA and Boeing have worked together to assess the problem. On Friday,
representatives for the couple said they had not yet set a date for the return flight and would wait until ground tests and all analyzes were completed. Initial testing of the engine will take place at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and is expected to begin on Tuesday.
Originally, the Starliner was only scheduled to dock at the station for 45 days due to battery limitations, but Stich said that could be extended as the batteries would be charged by the station. “I want to make it clear that Butch and Sonny are not wandering around in space,” Stitch said. Our plan is to bring them back on the Starliner and get them home on time.
Officials said the Starliner performed well when docked and could be used as a rescue boat to bring astronauts home in an emergency. Mark Nappi, Boeing’s vice president and director of commercial crew programs, echoed Stich’s comments, saying, “We are stuck on the International Space Station and our crew members are not in danger.” Sunny and Butch “Please come back to Earth”
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