Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is pictured docked to the Worldwide House Station orbiting above Egypt’s Mediterranean coast on June 13, 2024.NASANASA and Boeing are additional extending the primary Starliner crewed flight however will not be but setting a brand new goal date for returning the capsule to Earth, the organizations introduced Friday.Boeing’s Starliner capsule “Calypso” will keep on the Worldwide House Station into subsequent month whereas the corporate and NASA conduct new testing again on the bottom. Boeing’s crew flight check represents the primary time Starliner is carrying individuals, flying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.Officers say the Starliner crew is beginning a check marketing campaign of the spacecraft’s thruster know-how at White Sands, New Mexico — testing that will probably be accomplished earlier than Starliner returns to Earth.”We expect 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 Industrial Crew supervisor Steve Stich stated 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 secure 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, particularly its thruster system.”I wish to make it very clear that Butch and Suni will not be stranded in house,” Stich stated.Enroll right here to obtain weekly editions of CNBC’s Investing in House e-newsletter.The Starliner crew flight check represents a last main step earlier than NASA certifies Boeing to fly crew on operational, six-month missions. But, much like the earlier two spaceflights that have been uncrewed, Starliner is operating into a number of issues throughout the mission.Testing in New MexicoDespite NASA and Boeing’s assurances that Calypso is secure to return at any level, Starliner groups wish to attempt to replicate thruster points that occurred when the spacecraft was approaching the ISS. Officers stated the purpose of the bottom testing is to “guarantee that there’s nothing that is uncommon” concerning the thruster’s efficiency.The White Sands floor checks are anticipated to start as early as Tuesday.”This would be the actual alternative to look at the thruster, similar to we have had in house, with on-the-ground detailed inspection. As soon as that testing is finished, then we’ll have a look at the plan for touchdown,” Stich stated.”We’re not going to focus on a particular date [for return] till we get that testing accomplished,” he added.Officers famous their rationale for holding Starliner on the ISS whereas the White Sands testing is carried out: Boeing and NASA say their groups can carry out thruster checks extra continuously on the bottom, in addition to bodily examine the thrusters after check firings.Whereas Starliner will now spend far longer than anticipated in orbit, NASA’s Stich famous that the spacecraft is designed for missions so long as 210 days.Company and firm representatives repeatedly expressed confidence within the Boeing spacecraft’s security. Officers stated delaying the return to Earth is an non-compulsory selection to check Starliner extra throughout an experimental mission, fairly than a needed choice to repair a dangerous drawback.”We’re not caught on ISS. The crew isn’t in any hazard, and there is not elevated danger once we resolve to carry Suni and Butch again to Earth,” Boeing’s Starliner program Vice President Mark Nappi stated.Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO