NASA To Make IMPORTANT Announcement on Sunita Williams’ Return

Two National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronauts Butch Wilmore and Indian-Origin Sunita William are still in hovering space after their Starliner spacecraft experienced trouble in the propulsion system. "Helium leaks and thruster failures almost derailed their arrival at the International Space Station, and has kept them there much longer than planned," the officials had stated.

The two NASA astronauts would have been back probably by June 14.

NASA and Boeing are set to hold a media teleconference at 9 PM on Thursday, July 25. "to provide the latest status of the agency's Boeing Crew Flight Test mission aboard the International Space Station."

The briefing is likely to provide insights on the NASA astronauts' return. In addition, there will also be some insights on the "ground hot fire testing" being conducted to ensure Starliner's safe comeback to Earth.

Everything you need to know about ground testing

The ground hot fire testing simulates various flight conditions, including the spacecraft's approach to the space station and potential stress scenarios during undocking and deorbit burn.

"The test series involved firing the engine through similar in-flight conditions the spacecraft experienced during its approach to the space station," NASA said.

Currently, engineering teams with NASA and Boeing have completed the testing of a Starliner reaction control system thruster at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico.

On July 11, NASA informed that its teams, along with Boeing crew, continued working to increase their understanding of the Starliner spacecraft’s propulsion system prior to the return of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from space station, conducting ground tests on a new thruster.

Later on July 20, the Boeing space informed, “From launch to docked operations, the spacecraft and its crew accomplished all capability checkouts and 77 flight test objectives for certification. The remaining 10 will be accomplished from undocking to landing."