In a series of setbacks for Boeing, the return trip to Earth for two NASA astronauts who embarked on a mission aboard the company's Starliner spacecraft has been delayed for the third time. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams find themselves waiting patiently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as engineers on the ground work tirelessly to address multiple issues with the troubled spacecraft.

Officials have revealed that there is a 45-day window to bring the astronauts back, but with limited fuel in the Harmony module, which the Starliner is docked to, the window for a safe return flight is narrowing.

Originally scheduled to come home on June 13 after a week at the ISS, Wilmore and Williams remain in space due to a series of problems encountered by the Starliner. The issues include five helium leaks and the sudden stoppage of five thrusters during the flight.

The situation has prompted speculation and discussions among space enthusiasts, some even calling on Elon Musk's SpaceX to rescue the astronauts with one of their Dragon spacecraft. Concerns over the safety of Boeing's Starliner were voiced on social media platforms, with users raising questions about the reliability of the spacecraft.

However, space expert Jonathan McDowell suggests that the situation may not be as dire as it appears. McDowell emphasizes that while losing a few thrusters might not be catastrophic, it is crucial to thoroughly understand and address all issues to ensure the safety of the astronauts. He warns against smaller issues masking potentially bigger problems.

If the situation worsens, the astronauts may have to wait until August when Musk's Dragon spacecraft is scheduled for a trip to the ISS. This worst-case scenario would further extend the duration of Wilmore and Williams' stay in space.

Boeing's Starliner faced years of delays and was halted once at the last minute before finally launching its first manned flight from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on June 5. However, during the 25-hour flight, engineers discovered hardware issues, including helium leaks in the thrusters and multiple failures in the reaction-control system.

Mark Nappi, Boeing's Starliner program manager, expressed concerns about the performance of the helium system, calling it manageable but not operating as designed. The root causes of these problems remain unknown, leaving the engineers to investigate further to rectify the situation.

As the clock ticks and engineers race against time, the focus remains on resolving the issues plaguing Boeing's Starliner and ensuring a safe return journey for the stranded NASA astronauts.