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What went wrong with Boeing’s spaceship

This photo provided by NASA shows Boeing's Starliner spacecraft which launched astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station docked to the Harmony module's forward port on July 3, 2024, seen from a window on the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft docked to the adjacent port. (NASA via AP) (Uncredited)

Two NASA astronauts have spent nearly three months waiting aboard the International Space Station after their Boeing spacecraft encountered problems on its journey into orbit.

Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which remains parked at the space station, has been sidelined by malfunctioning thrusters and leaking helium. Engineers on the ground have been scrambling to understand the problems, and NASA is still weighing how to bring the astronauts home safely.

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The high-stakes mission is the Starliner’s first crewed flight, and it was meant to be the final hurdle before NASA could certify Boeing’s spacecraft to make routine trips to and from the orbiting outpost. But as the trip — originally intended to last around eight days — has stretched on, NASA has said it is considering bringing its astronauts home to Earth on a SpaceX capsule, instead.

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