In a recent update from NASA, it has been revealed that the first astronaut mission of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft will be extended into the summer. Originally scheduled for a 10-day flight, the mission encountered helium leaks and thruster issues during a docking attempt with the International Space Station (ISS) on June 6.

Despite the challenges faced, both Boeing and NASA assure that the Starliner spacecraft remains stable and fully capable of leaving the ISS in case of an emergency. However, in order to fully understand the root cause of the issues, NASA and Boeing have decided to conduct additional testing.

The testing campaign, set to begin on July 2 at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, aims to replicate the circumstances under which the thrusters were used during the flight. This process is expected to take approximately two weeks, subject to the findings and further analysis. Consequently, a specific landing date for the Starliner mission has not yet been determined.

During a recent livestreamed update, NASA commercial crew program manager Steve Stich emphasized the need to complete the testing and fault analysis before setting a target date for landing. He stated, "We're not going to target a specific date until we get that testing completed, and we look at the fault tree, and then we understand the path for it."

The ongoing 10-day Crew Flight Test mission of the Starliner, which includes NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, was designed with flexibility in mind to address unforeseen challenges in space. The unexpected issues during the docking process on June 6, including a tiny helium leak and malfunctioning thrusters, prompted NASA to delay the initial attempt while ensuring the spacecraft's readiness for a second docking attempt.

After conducting additional testing and reviewing the helium supply and thrusters, NASA and Boeing have identified that the leak has stabilized and most of the thrusters are recovering. However, due to concerns regarding performance, at least one of the thrusters will not be utilized during the landing procedure.

The last major update from Starliner officials, provided on June 21, hinted at a landing date sometime after July 2. As analysis and testing continue, the exact timing of the next steps remains uncertain. Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing's commercial crew program, emphasized the unpredictable nature of these tests in terms of their duration and success.

The safety and success of the mission are of utmost importance, with both NASA and Boeing committed to ensuring a thorough understanding of the system before proceeding. Nappi stated, "After it's all complete, we'll meet and we'll make sure we did everything we needed to do to understand the system, then we'll come home safely."

As NASA and Boeing continue to investigate and analyze the Starliner's performance, further updates will be provided to determine the next course of action in the mission.