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This morning, NASA astronauts and Boeing Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams conducted a live video press conference from the International Space Station (ISS). They acknowledged the challenges the Starliner faced with disabled reaction control system (RCS) jets and degraded thrust from the propulsion engines. With no clear schedule for their return, they expressed confidence in the test process and the engineering prowess of their ground team.
Both praised the Starliner for its docking capability with the degraded controls and the earthbound team currently working to troubleshoot the problems from the White Sands, New Mexico, test facility. Wilmore described initial operational checks after launch as going “unbelievably well,” with the automatic controls operating with “truly amazing precision.”
Williams emphasized the bright side of the extended stay at the ISS, including the opportunity to borrow crew members to try out additional seating capacity and environmental control systems in the Starliner spacecraft. “We are comfortable with more people,” she said. She also noted the chance to practice for using the Starliner as a “safe haven,” should issues arise on board ISS. Williams reiterated that “this is a test flight. We expected to find things, and we did.”
