NASA and Boeing said the Boeing Starliner spacecraft will not be able to return to Earth due to technical problems during the mission. The vehicle, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has been experiencing consecutive delays.

Boeing Starliner return delayed for now

The Starliner capsule has been docked to the ISS since June 6. It was playing a critical role for crewed missions, carrying astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The initial target for its return was set for June 26, but its return has been postponed without a new date.

According to NASA officials, Boeing will need more time to investigate problems experienced during Starliner’s spaceflight. These problems include the failure of the maneuvering thrusters and leaks in the helium pressurization system.

Docking and landing represent the most complex stages of the space mission. NASA flight rules require at least 12 thrusters to operate. NASA did not allow Starliner to return because one thruster was still not repaired. In this context, it wants to eliminate any risk.

The delays are delaying Boeing’s goal of certification for crewed missions. Receiving a $4.5 billion subsidy, the company has spent more than $1.5 billion so far. NASA uses the Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

While an active helium leak is not ideal for a Boeing ship, NASA says engineers did their due diligence by completing inspections over the course of a few weeks. In fact, there are risks involved in every launch, and NASA decided that this one was within limits.