Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which recently transported NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station (ISS), will have its return to Earth postponed until June 26, according to a NASA official. The delay comes as the spacecraft encountered several in-flight challenges, including helium leaks and thruster failures.

NASA's commercial crew program manager, Steve Stich, explained during a news conference that the decision to extend the Starliner's stay on the ISS is to provide the team with additional time to analyze data and ensure a safe return. The goal is to certify the spacecraft for routine astronaut missions and introduce it as a second crew vehicle in NASA's fleet, alongside SpaceX's Crew Dragon.

The return trip from the ISS is estimated to take around six hours and is expected to land in the desert of Utah, New Mexico, or alternate backup locations depending on weather conditions. Starliner, designed for future six-month missions, can remain docked to the ISS for a maximum of 45 days during its current mission.

The recent in-flight issues add to the series of challenges Boeing has faced with its Starliner program. In 2019, an uncrewed test failure revealed numerous software glitches, design problems, and management issues that prevented the spacecraft from docking to the ISS. However, a repeat uncrewed test in 2022 successfully accomplished the docking procedure.

The current delay underscores the importance of this first crewed flight for Starliner, as it serves as a critical test before NASA's certification process can be completed. Once certified, Starliner will join SpaceX's Crew Dragon in providing regular transport of astronauts to and from the ISS.

With the postponement providing the NASA team more time to investigate and analyze the recent in-flight challenges, the agency remains focused on ensuring the safe return of the Starliner and advancing the future of crewed space missions.