NEW YORK (AP) — When two veteran NASA astronauts blasted off on a check drive of Boeing’s new capsule, they anticipated to move residence from the Worldwide House Station in per week or so.It is now three weeks and counting for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams as NASA and Boeing troubleshoot tools issues that popped up on the best way there.Three potential touchdown dates have been known as off and their flight house is now on maintain.This week, Boeing mentioned the Starliner capsule’s issues aren’t a priority for the return journey and “the astronauts aren’t stranded.”The long-delayed check flight is the primary with astronauts aboard. Boeing will ultimately be a part of SpaceX in ferrying crews to and from the house station for NASA.A take a look at what’s behind the prolonged keep:Why was the Starliner return journey postponed?NASA needs extra time to research issues within the spacecraft’s propulsion system, which is used to maneuver in flight. The propulsion system is hooked up to the capsule, nevertheless it doesn’t come again to Earth for inspection. It’s ditched throughout reentry and burns up.“We’re simply taking slightly extra further time to assessment all the information and likewise be taught as a lot as we are able to whereas we’ve this service module in orbit,” Steve Stich, NASA’s industrial crew program supervisor, mentioned at a information convention final week earlier than the most recent postponement.The house company additionally mentioned it did not need the departure to battle with spacewalks. This week’s spacewalk was known as off after water leaked from an astronaut’s spacesuit whereas she was nonetheless contained in the orbiting lab. Tuesday’s spacewalk was nonetheless on the schedule.What are the issues being investigated?5 of the capsule’s 28 thrusters went down throughout docking, because the capsule closed in on the house station. All however one thruster was restarted, and so they labored throughout a later check firing, NASA mentioned. Officers suspect that warmth from all of the thruster motion at docking induced the shutdown. The one defective thruster has been turned off and isn’t a problem for the return journey, Boeing mentioned.The capsule launched June 5 with one small helium leak, however 4 extra leaks sprung up by the point it reached the house station. Helium is used to pressurize gasoline for the thrusters, and a defective rubber seal was suspected within the preliminary leak. Officers say there’s an amply provide of helium, and Boeing says the leaks are secure and never a priority.“Up to now, we don’t see any state of affairs the place Starliner is just not going to have the ability to carry Butch and Suni residence,” Stich mentioned final week.What’s subsequent?Boeing and NASA say they’re going to contemplate touchdown dates as soon as the spacewalks are over.Story continuesThe capsule can stay on the house station for 45 days or longer if wanted, Boeing mentioned. Within the meantime, mission managers proceed to research the thruster bother and helium leaks to allow them to resolve the issues earlier than the subsequent flight.Wilmore and Williams have been pitching in with chores and analysis on the house station, together with their duties trying out methods on the Boeing capsule. NASA mentioned there is no such thing as a rush for them to go away, and there are many provides for the pair and the seven residents on the house station.___The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’