Astronauts stuck on ISS 'confident' Starliner will bring them home

Correction: helium leaks were known before they launched.

Whenever there's an inconvenience like this, the commercial provider should be penalized in some way that doesn't put safety at risk. I don't know what that is, but Boeing Space clearly was overzealous in their claims about the spacecraft.

And to be extremely clear, Boeing Space and Boeing Aircraft are different subsidiaries. Workers don't really switch from one to the other. When I worked with Boeing Space people, they were smart and paid more than any other contractor, except, perhaps, IBM. Penalties for non-performance are definitely needed.

Watch the movie "The Martian " I think the stranded astronaut grows potatoes...

I cant be "extremely clear " though.

Engineers are not sure why the craft's computer "deselected" these thrusters, though they were able to restart all but one of them.

In a subsequent press call, Boeing executive Mark Nappi told reporters that the "working theory" for the thruster malfunction was overheating due to excessive firing.

Theories on the cause of the helium leaks ranged from debris entering the propulsion system to Boeing possibly installing seals that were undersized for the task.

NASA and Boeing insist Starliner could fly home in case of an emergency, particularly since the problems affected only certain thrusters that control orientation.

They have no concerns over any of the more powerful thrusters responsible for the "deorbit burn" that will bring the spaceship back.

Words like "Boeing", "Working theory", Boeing installing wrong seals", "no concerns" in same story is scary.

Hope they come down safely

They're not stuck or stranded. They're merely taking an 'extended vacation'. Hope they have enough powdered food and Spam there.

Quite sure those astronauts are sad being in space longer. That's not why people want to become astronauts

Quite sure those astronauts are sad being in space longer.

You are very confused. They only get to do the things they've wanted their entire lives when they are in space. If they were on the ground, they can't be part of "space history".

I've met and worked with about 20 astronauts. They planned their lives to get there, some from age 4. It has been their dream to be in space all that time and they've taken the hardest, most, related courses to get there. The selection criteria for astronauts usually requires 2 PhDs, for example. They are smart, fit, and willing to set almost everything else in their lives on the sidelines for this goal. Their families are part of helping them achieve too.

The closest comparison would an Olympic athlete.

Many apply, few achieve.

Boeing doing Boeing things. What an embarrassment. What a crock that Boeing is paid tens of billions of dollars a year by the USA taxpayer.

They are doing tests because the parts that are having issues will burn up on re-entry. Anti-americans need not comment given their own lack of space programs.

theFu, I don't doubt that you are friends with dozens of astronauts, but where does the 2 PhDs come from? Both of the astronauts in the story do not even have one PhD

The Fu makes stuff up.

Anyway , of course they'd be "confident " of rescue.

What is the alternative ?

Not confident of rescue ?

Imagine the mental trauma in a confined space.

At least the "Miracle Chinese Floaty Lady " was out in the open seas.

Ground Control to Major Tom .......................

theFuJuly 12  01:50 am JST

Quite sure those astronauts are sad being in space longer.

You are very confused. They only get to do the things they've wanted their entire lives when they are in space. If they were on the ground, they can't be part of "space history".

I've met and worked with about 20 astronauts. They planned their lives to get there, some from age 4. It has been their dream to be in space all that time and they've taken the hardest, most, related courses to get there. The selection criteria for astronauts usually requires 2 PhDs, for example. They are smart, fit, and willing to set almost everything else in their lives on the sidelines for this goal. Their families are part of helping them achieve too.

The closest comparison would an Olympic athlete.

Many apply, few achieve.

Even better because with these space stations the residents grow some food and they do some recreational activity. It's not all work.

Desert TortoiseJuly 12  01:43 pm JST

Ground Control to Major Tom .......................

Canadian astronaut Chris Hatfield made a video of himself playing an acoustic guitar weightless, performing this song. When he returned home to Earth, David Bowie texted him with the greeting, 'Hello Spaceboy'. After Hatfield landed he was actually greeted by David Bowie himself!