{"id":2284009,"date":"2024-06-26T13:56:01","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T17:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-nasa-astronauts-stuck-in-space-indefinitely-as-boeing-flounders\/"},"modified":"2024-06-26T14:03:39","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T18:03:39","slug":"two-nasa-astronauts-stuck-in-space-indefinitely-as-boeing-flounders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-nasa-astronauts-stuck-in-space-indefinitely-as-boeing-flounders\/","title":{"rendered":"Two NASA Astronauts Stuck in Space Indefinitely as Boeing Flounders"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftwo-nasa-astronauts-stuck-in-space-indefinitely-as-boeing-flounders%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2284009&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Two\u2064 NASA astronauts, Barry \u201cButch\u201d Wilmore and Sunita \u201cSuni\u201d Williams, \u2063are currently stranded\u2064 on the International Space\u2064 Station \u200cdue to technical issues with Boeing\u2019s Starliner\u200d spacecraft,\u2062 specifically helium leaks and a problematic \u200cthruster.\u2063 Although <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-15-most-anticipated-albums-of-2021\/\" title=\"The 15 Most Anticipated Albums of 2021\u00a0\">initially planned<\/a> to\u200b return on \u200bJune \u200c14, delays have extended their stay, \u2063with a potential return \u200cnow \u2062eyed for \u2063no earlier than July \u200b6. Boeing is attempting to resolve \u200bthese issues and has scheduled a spacewalk on July 2,\u2064 which will play a significant role in deciding the \u2062timing of the astronauts&#8217; return to Earth. Meanwhile,\u200b NASA officials \u2063emphasize the importance of taking time to\u200d ensure \u2062all safety measures \u2064are met before committing to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-church-group-escapes-from-israel-into-jordan-after-hearing-rockets-and-gunfire\/\" title=\"Florida church group flees Israel to Jordan amid rocket attacks and gunfire.\">return\u2063 flight<\/a>, reflecting a cautious \u200capproach following\u200d historical incidents like the Columbia \u200bdisaster. \u200dThis\u200d mission is critical as\u200d Boeing\u2064 works\u200d towards certification to launch astronauts, underscoring \u2062the complexity and challenges of\u2064 space\u2064 operations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/news\/\">  News <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/russdavis\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/russdavis\/%20\"><span>Jack Davis<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   June 26, 2024 at 10:53am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Two NASA astronauts are stuck in space for at least another 10 days and perhaps longer as officials try to address problems with Boeing\u2019s Starliner spacecraft.<\/p>\n<p>On June 5, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/federal-prosecutors-enough-target-boeing-major-doj-deadline-approaches\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Starliner<\/a> launched flight commander Barry \u201cButch\u201d Wilmore and flight pilot Sunita \u201cSuni\u201d Williams to the International Space Station. Helium leaks and a thruster issue emerged to keep the Starliner in space.<\/p>\n<p>Wilkmore and Williams were initially expected to return on June 14. No official date for their return exists, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/nasa-astronauts-stuck-waiting-aboard-iss-return-earth\/story?id=111399962\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ABC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/technology\/space\/how-boeings-starliner-can-bring-its-astronauts-back-earth-2024-06-24\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters<\/a>, citing NASA sources it did not name, said the earliest date being considered is July 6.<\/p>\n<p>Boeing told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/boeing-starliner-stuck-astronaut-return-update-1917176\">Newsweek<\/a> that the helium leaks and thruster issues were \u201cnot a concern\u201d with only one of 27 thrusters still balky.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/biden-regulators-investigating-counterfeit-chinese-materials-used-major-jet-manufacturer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Boeing<\/a> said a spacewalk planned for July 2 will be a key to deciding when a return flight takes place.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have a great deal of confidence they are looking at it very hard and they would not commit to the de-orbit of a spacecraft that was unsafe,\u201d Wayne Hale, the former NASA space <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nasa-astronaut-returns-to-earth-in-russian-spacecraft\/\" title=\"NASA Astronaut Returns To Earth In Russian Spacecraft\">shuttle program<\/a> director who directed for 40 shuttle flights said, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/technology\/2024\/06\/25\/starliner-nasa-boeing-space-station\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Washington Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-josh-hawley-announces-he-will-object-during-electoral-college-certification-process\/\" title=\"Sen. Josh Hawley announces he will object during Electoral College certification process\">certification process<\/a> that would allow Boeing to join SpaceX as an approved launch provider is a \u201cpainstaking review,\u201d Hale said.<\/p>\n<p>Hale said that \u201cclearly these two issues need to be resolved\u201d before NASA gives Boeing its full approval, adding\u00a0 \u201cthruster failures and helium leaks are something we dealt with all the time in the shuttle program. They were very common.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hale said the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/pentagon-orbital-outpost-works-major-step-american-military-space\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">space shuttle<\/a> Columbia disaster of 2003, when the craft disintegrated in its return to Earth, is on the minds of those vetting Starliner\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose lessons are not forgotten,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process,\u201d Steve Stich, manager of NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program, said. \u201cWe are letting the data drive our decision making relative to managing the small helium system leaks and thruster performance we observed during rendezvous and docking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-apitype=\"text\" data-contentid=\"NH27UIC2KJB7HHXWK5UOABPYPU\" data-el=\"text\" data-scroll-pos=\"14\" data-scroll-measured=\"true\">Last week, Stich said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nasa-innovative-concept-build-transport-railway-system-moon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA<\/a> was \u201cnot going to go fly another mission like this with the helium leaks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The helium and thruster problems are located within Starliner\u2019s service module, which gives Starliner most of its power, but also is jettisoned and burns up upon re-entry.<\/p>\n<p>Because \u201cthe service module doesn\u2019t come back, they have to get all the data they can from it now,\u201d Mike Massimino, a former NASA astronaut and a professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University, said. \u201cYou\u2019d want to stay on orbit as long as you can to get that data.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Makena Young, a fellow with the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/nasa-astronauts-stuck-boeing-spacecraft-face-high-stakes-return-incredibly-important-mission-expert\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fox News<\/a> that repairs are a challenge in space.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOperating in space, building these spacecraft, especially human-rated spacecraft for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/facebook-bans-myanmar-military-despite-election-fraud-concerns\/\" title=\"Facebook bans Myanmar military despite election fraud concerns\">commercial companies<\/a>, is a new endeavor that\u2019s still incredibly technical. It\u2019s a really hard operating environment when things go wrong \u2026 It\u2019s not like you can go to take it to a mechanic when you\u2019re in space,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is an incredibly important mission,\u201d Young said. \u201cThese delays seem like a bad thing, and can erode confidence that you have in the system \u2026 but you really want to make sure that there are no questions in the back of your mind when you\u2019re saying, \u2018OK, yes, this is ready to launch humans.\u2019 They\u2019re definitely necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>An Important Message from Our Staff:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We who work here at The Western Journal have fought for years against Big Tech and the elites who want to shut us down and then shut America down. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Make no mistake \u2014 nothing will be the same after November 2024. Will you help us fight? Will you <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>help us expose the America-hating elites<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  who will do everything they can to steal this election? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We\u2019re a small group of people fighting to save the country for our readers and for our own family and friends. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Can we count on your help?<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><i><span>At this point, Big Tech has cut off our access to 90% of advertisers. Imagine if someone took 90% of your paycheck and there was nothing you could do. They\u2019re trying to starve us out.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Donations from readers like you have literally helped keep our lights on, and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>we need you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  now more than ever. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We operate on a shoestring budget, but with that budget, we terrify the globalists. Please help us continue the fight. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>, and we will never surrender.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Thank you for reading The Western Journal and for believing in America. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>It is a pleasure to serve you.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. Please don\u2019t let the America-hating left win. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Stand with us today<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-44685\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/russdavis\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-44685\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-44685\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-44685\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-44685\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues. <br \/> Jack can be reached at jackwritings1@gmail.com. <\/p>\n<p>  Location <\/p>\n<p>  New York City <\/p>\n<p>  Languages Spoken <\/p>\n<p>  English <\/p>\n<p>  Topics of Expertise <\/p>\n<p>  Politics, Foreign Policy, Military &#038; Defense Issues <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two NASA astronauts, Barry &#8220;Butch&#8221; Wilmore and Sunita &#8220;Suni&#8221; Williams, launched on June 5 aboard Boeing&#8217;s Starliner, are stranded in space. They face at least an additional 10-day delay, possibly longer, as officials tackle spacecraft issues<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":661,"featured_media":2284010,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/nasa-stuck.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[20139,14922,6170,11488,5088],"class_list":["post-2284009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-astronauts","tag-boeing","tag-crisis","tag-nasa","tag-space"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/nasa-stuck.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2284009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/661"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2284009"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2284009\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2284010"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2284009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2284009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2284009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}