What To Know
- problems with the capsule’s propulsion system as it approached the International Space Station (ISS), which led NASA to postpone their departure, while tests were conducted.
- “I have a very good feeling that the spacecraft will bring us home, without any problems,” Suni Williams said during a press conference conducted from space.
- Boeing’s Starliner successfully lifts off, en route to the ISSButch Wilmore praised the capabilities of the spacecraft, which he piloted manually en route to the ISS, including its precision.
The cause: problems with the capsule’s propulsion system as it approached the International Space Station (ISS), which led NASA to postpone their departure, while tests were conducted. “I have a very good feeling that the spacecraft will bring us home, without any problems,” Suni Williams said during a press conference conducted from space. In the meantime, “we’re having a great time here on the ISS,” she added.Boeing’s Starliner successfully lifts off, en route to the ISSButch Wilmore praised the capabilities of the spacecraft, which he piloted manually en route to the ISS, including its precision. As a test pilot, he put the challenges into perspective: “This is the world of testing. It’s a tough business,” he said. “Every spacecraft ever designed has had multiple problems. That’s the nature of our job.” Just before the spacecraft docked with the station, five of its 28 small thrusters failed at some point, although all but one were eventually restarted. NASA has since begun ground tests of a similar thruster, subjecting it to conditions similar to those experienced in flight. NASA says astronauts can now use the capsule at any time to return in an emergency.
