Stranded Starliner Spacecraft’s Thrusters Have Been Overheating, NASA Admits

NASA has disclosed ongoing challenges with the thrusters of Boeing’s Starliner space capsule, which have been overheating, a critical issue contributing to astronauts being stranded on the International Space Station. The agency has been actively addressing this malfunction, with intensive testing and evaluations taking place to mitigate the problem.

During a recent press briefing, NASA officials revealed that one of the spacecraft’s problematic thrusters has been under rigorous examination at the Earth-based White Sands, New Mexico test facility for the past month. The overheating issue began to surface in early June when the Starliner faced difficulties docking with the ISS due to thruster failures.

The Starliner spacecraft, equipped with four propulsion devices, reportedly has a design flaw within its propulsion pods—commonly referred to as “doghouses.” These pods, as detailed by NASA, act like a thermos, inadvertently retaining heat and causing the thrusters to overheat. This overheating was identified during simulations conducted to replicate the conditions experienced during the spacecraft’s orbit.

Adding to the complications, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, Steve Stich, explained that the thrusters were activated more often than anticipated. The frequent firing of these thrusters led to excessive heat accumulation, prompting NASA to extend their tests to better understand the implications of these repeated pulses.

The ongoing ground tests aim to ensure that the thrusters can withstand the additional stress without sustaining damage, which is crucial for the safety and feasibility of bringing the astronauts home safely. As the mission, initially planned for just eight days, extends beyond a month, resolving these technical issues is imperative for NASA and Boeing to ensure the astronauts’ safe return.