NASA and Boeing, Stress That Astronauts, Are Not 'Stranded' on ISS.<br />'Newsweek' reports that two NASA astronauts remain <br />on the International Space Station, nearly two <br />weeks after originally being scheduled to return.<br />Both Suni Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore continue <br />to wait on the ISS while NASA and Boeing engineers work to <br />fix a number of helium leaks on the Starliner spacecraft.<br />Both Suni Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore continue <br />to wait on the ISS while NASA and Boeing engineers work to <br />fix a number of helium leaks on the Starliner spacecraft.<br />The Starliner, which has been delayed several times <br />before successfully launching on June 5, experienced <br />some thruster problems while traveling to the ISS. .<br />According to NASA, the spacecraft has been , "performing well in orbit while <br />docked to the space station.".<br />NASA also stressed that the astronauts <br />are not "stranded" on the ISS as they <br />could undock and fly home at any time. .<br />The pair are being kept on the ISS <br />past their planned return in order to , "allow mission teams time to <br />review propulsion system data.".<br />We are taking our time and <br />following our standard mission <br />management team process, Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew <br />Program manager, via 'Newsweek'.<br />We are letting the data drive <br />our decision making relative to <br />managing the small helium system <br />leaks and thruster performance, Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew <br />Program manager, via 'Newsweek'.<br />Originally, Wilmore and Williams were scheduled <br />to touch down on Earth on June 22 before <br />the date was pushed back to June 26.<br />'Newsweek' reports that it took three attempts <br />to get Starliner's first crewed mission into orbit, <br />following years of delays and engineering issues.
