Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is pictured docked to the Worldwide Area Station orbiting above Egypt’s Mediterranean coast on June 13, 2024.NASANASA and Boeing are additional extending the primary Starliner crewed flight however should not but setting a brand new goal date for returning the capsule to Earth, the organizations introduced on Friday.Boeing’s Starliner capsule “Calypso” will keep on the Worldwide Area Station into subsequent month whereas the corporate and NASA conduct new testing again on the bottom. Boeing’s crew flight take a look at represents the primary time Starliner is carrying folks, flying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.Officers say the Starliner staff is beginning a take a look at marketing campaign of the spacecraft’s thruster know-how at White Sands, New Mexico – testing that can be accomplished earlier than Starliner returns to Earth.”We predict the testing might take a few weeks. We’re attempting to duplicate the inflight circumstances as greatest we are able to on the bottom,” NASA’s Business Crew supervisor Steve Stich mentioned throughout a press convention.Earlier than launching on June 5, Boeing and NASA deliberate for Starliner to be in house for 9 days. As of Friday, the Starliner flight has tallied 24 days and counting. Regardless of the prolonged keep on the ISS, officers emphasised that Starliner is protected to return at any level in case of an emergency. NASA and Boeing say the delay for testing is solely to assemble extra information concerning the spacecraft’s efficiency, specifically its thruster system.”I need to make it very clear that Butch and Suni should not stranded in house,” Stich mentioned.The Starliner crew flight take a look at represents a ultimate main step earlier than NASA certifies Boeing to fly crew on operational, six-month missions. But, just like the earlier two spaceflights that have been uncrewed, Starliner is operating into a number of issues in the course of the mission.Starliner was as soon as seen as a competitor to SpaceX’s Dragon, which has made 12 crewed journeys to the ISS over the previous 4 years. Nevertheless, numerous setbacks and delays have steadily slipped Starliner right into a backup place for NASA, with the company planning to have SpaceX and Boeing fly astronauts on alternating flights.