Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams spent July 4 aboard the International Space Station as NASA and Boeing officials try to figure out what's wrong with Starliner's thrusters.
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore spent an unexpected Fourth of July aboard the International Space Station — but it was hardly a patriotic display of engineering prowess. The two
and Boeing are taking a cautious approach in returning the pair to earth largely due to five thrusters that malfunctioned during docking. Four of the tiny engines that direct the craft in space are now working properly, but engineers don't have a clear understanding of what caused the shutdown, so they have decided to conduct ground tests at
officials said. The tests will put a Starliner thruster through its paces in a replicated space environment. The delay also will allow engineers to further study a helium leak in the capsule's propulsion system that was first detected prior to launch and worsened as Starliner made its way up to the space station roughly 250 miles above earth. The gas is used to pressurize the Starliner's propulsion system.
had said the batteries aboard Starliner were rated for 45 days but during the press conference they indicated they were performing well and would be rated to last another 45 days. On regular missions to service the station, Starliner would stay docked for six months.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NASA astronauts send a Fourth of July message from spaceDT Video
Read more »
NASA taps SpaceX to help destroy International Space Station at the end of its lifeThe commercially-operated space station will replace the current government-funded space station in the next decade.
Read more »
NASA awards SpaceX $843 million contract to destroy the International Space StationBen Turner is a U.K. based staff writer at Live Science. He covers physics and astronomy, among other topics like tech and climate change. He graduated from University College London with a degree in particle physics before training as a journalist.
Read more »
NASA Picks SpaceX to Destroy The International Space StationThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Read more »
SpaceX Wins $843-Million NASA Contract to Destroy the International Space StationThe world will be watching—literally—as SpaceX tackles possibly what might be its highest-stakes endeavor to date: safely destroying the beloved International Space Station
Read more »
NASA is paying SpaceX to destroy the International Space StationAndrew Paul is Popular Science's staff writer covering tech news. Previously, he was a regular contributor to The A.V. Club and Input, and has had recent work featured by Rolling Stone, Fangoria, GQ, Slate, NBC, as well as McSweeney's Internet Tendency. He lives outside Indianapolis.
Read more »