Two US astronauts are set to be left on the International Space Station (ISS) for a fortnight longer than expected.

Boeing Starliner’s return to Earth from the International Space Station with its first crew of astronauts has been pushed back to June 26.

NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams were launched aboard Starliner on June 5 and arrived at the ISS.

However, their arrival followed a 24-hour flight in which the spacecraft encountered four helium leaks and five failures of its 28 manoeuvring thrusters.

NASA’s commercial crew program manager Steve Stich told a news conference the new delay of the return of Starliner is intended “to give our team a little bit more time to look at the data, do some analysis and make sure we’re really ready to come home.”

Starliner’s first flight with astronauts is a crucial last test in a much-delayed and over-budget program before NASA can certify the spacecraft for routine astronaut missions and add a second US crew vehicle to its fleet, alongside SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.

Officials from Nasa and Boeing say they plan to analyse the vehicle over the coming days before starting preparations for the return journey.

Stich said: “So far, we don’t see any scenario where Starliner is not going to be able to bring Butch and Suni home.”

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