Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news about fascinating discoveries, scientific breakthroughs and more.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams — two veteran NASA astronauts piloting the first crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft — have now been in space for 63 days, about seven weeks longer than initially expected.
There is still no clear return date in sight.
CNN confirmed on Tuesday that NASA has not yet begun a “flight readiness review” for the return of the Starliner crew from the International Space Station. The agency had said on July 26 that it would begin this process in the first few days of August.
But teams at Boeing and NASA appear to still be working on a return date as officials evaluate test data and conduct analyzes of the propulsion problems and helium leaks that hampered the first leg of the Starliner capsule’s flight.
The delay in the flight readiness review process indicates that the Starliner’s return remains uncertain as officials work to reach an agreement on how the remainder of the mission launched on June 5 should be executed.
NASA will hold a mission status briefing at 12:30 pm ET on Wednesday.
The US space agency will face a barrage of questions over recent media reports suggesting the space agency is considering returning Wilmore and Williams in a SpaceX vehicle.
NASA has always had this scenario as a mission contingency, but the main goal is to bring the two astronauts home in the Starliner. Boeing keeps that its spacecraft is safe for astronauts.
However, the space agency announced Tuesday that it was delaying the launch of SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, a routine flight scheduled to fly with four astronauts to replace the Crew-8 mission aboard the International Space Station.
Crew-9 was scheduled to take off as early as August 18th – with the Starliner capsule expected to return home with its astronauts before then. Now, Crew-9 will not take off until September 24, NASA said.
“This adjustment allows more time for mission managers to finalize return planning for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test,” NASA said Tuesday. Press release.
For more news and newsletters from CNN, create an account at CNN.com
