https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/06/18/science/boeing-starliner-astronaut-mission-return-delay-scn
Keeping the vehicle in orbit is essential to studying the issues, which occurred on the Starliner spacecraft’s service module — a cylindrical attachment that sits at the bottom of the spacecraft. The service module will be jettisoned and discarded as the capsule returns home from space.
Because the service module won’t be returning with the mission, engineers will not have an opportunity to gather more data about the technical problems after the astronauts land, noted Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, at a Tuesday news conference.
That’s why they’re are hoping to learn as much as possible while the vehicle is still docked at the space station, but none of the problems have yet threatened the overall success of the mission, Stich said.
“So far, we don’t see any scenario where Starliner is not going to be able to bring Butch and Suni home,” Stich said.
“We really want to work through the remainder of the data,” he added.
