Astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams, crew members of Boeing’s first mission to the International Space Station (IS), said on Wednesday in a teleconference that they fully trust that they will be able to return to Earth aboard the ship.
The return of both was scheduled for mid-June, but it has been postponed – without a date for the moment – due to some technical problems in the Starliner, including five small helium leaks in the capsule service module.
“Right now, based on what we know, we are absolutely ready,” he defended from the orbital laboratory Wilmore, who pointed out that the performance of the ship during takeoff and the first 24 hours was “spectacular.”
Both NASA astronauts also expressed their confidence in the knowledge and experience of the team behind the mission.
“I have a good feeling in my heart that the ship will return us home,” said Williams, who said he had no reset about the capabilities of the capsule manufactured by Boeing.
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CEL
The manned test mission took off on June 5 from a platform of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in Florida (USA), and the next day was coupled to the Harmony module of the ISS.
The return of the mission, which was scheduled to remain on the space station for about a week, has been postponed by the helium leaks discovered, as well as by technical problems in the ship’s propulsion system.
According to the US space agency, once all the tests and data analysis are completed, they will do a complete review together with Boeing managers before fixing the return to New Mexico from the orbital complex.
The success of the CFT (Crew Flight Test) mission will mean for NASA to have a second supplier, after SpaceX, for the transport of manned and cargo missions to the orbital laboratory, under contracts signed with both private firms in 2014.
Spain rebukes U.S. over euthanasia case as minister defends legal framework
Spain’s Minister of Health, Mónica García, on Wednesday responded to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump after reports that Washington requested an investigation into the euthanasia case of Spanish citizen Noelia Castillo.
The minister questioned the U.S. government’s stance and urged it not to interfere in matters governed by Spain’s legal and healthcare framework. “Stop fueling an international ultra agenda by meddling everywhere,” García wrote in a message on the social platform X.
In her remarks, García also criticized the U.S. healthcare system, noting that thousands of people die each year without access to medical coverage. She further accused the Trump administration of supporting actions that undermine human rights in international contexts.
García defended the legality of euthanasia in Spain, emphasizing that the procedure is strictly regulated and subject to medical and judicial oversight. “Spain is a serious country, with a strong healthcare system and a legal framework that protects individuals, including those who choose to seek assistance in dying under regulated conditions reviewed by clinical committees and upheld by the courts,” she said.
The case of Noelia Castillo, a 25-year-old woman living with paraplegia, drew widespread attention following a legal dispute with her father, who opposed her decision to undergo euthanasia. The procedure was ultimately carried out in accordance with Spanish law.
New York City lifts TikTok ban on government devices under new security rules
New York City has lifted its ban on TikTok on government-owned devices, allowing city agencies to resume posting on the platform under newly established security protocols, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Tuesday.
The initial ban, implemented in 2023 by former mayor Eric Adams, aligned with federal and state-level restrictions across the United States, which limited the use of TikTok on official devices over concerns related to its parent company, ByteDance. The company has previously denied these concerns, calling them unfounded.
Under the updated guidelines issued by the city’s Cyber Command, devices designated for TikTok use by government agencies must not store or access sensitive information. Officials indicated that the policy shift is intended to enhance communication with residents.
“The Mamdani Administration is committed to using every tool in our toolbox to communicate with New Yorkers,” the mayor’s office said in a statement.
Following the announcement, the mayor’s official TikTok account resumed activity after remaining inactive since the ban was first enforced.
Rubio signals possible engagement with Iranian factions amid internal divisions
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that Washington is hopeful of engaging with factions within the government of Iran, noting that the United States has received positive private signals.
Speaking to ABC News’ Good Morning America, Rubio suggested that internal divisions exist within the Islamic Republic and expressed confidence that figures with the authority to act could emerge.
“We are hopeful that this will be the case,” Rubio said. “Clearly, there are people there who are communicating with us in ways that those previously in power in Iran did not. This is reflected in some of the steps they appear willing to take.”
Despite this, Rubio maintained a firm stance toward Iran, reiterating that the ongoing conflict seeks to eliminate its capacity to develop nuclear weapons—an objective that President Donald Trump has previously claimed was achieved during a military strike last year.
