Spacecraft Delays and Ancient Wolves: A Peek into Recent Science Marvels

Recent science news covers the extended testing for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft due to thruster issues, delaying its return from the ISS. It also highlights the first-ever autopsy on a 44,000-year-old wolf carcass found in Russia's permafrost, providing unique insights into prehistoric wildlife.

Following is a summary of current science news briefs.

Boeing Starliner's return from space to hinge on weeks of more testing

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will not return its two astronauts from the International Space Station until after engineers spend "a couple weeks" testing to investigate the spacecraft's thruster issues, a NASA official said on Friday. Starliner, which has been docked to the ISS since June 6 after ferrying its first crew of astronauts there, has had its test mission drawn out after a series of issues involving its thrusters and leaks of helium, which is used to pressurize the thrusters.

Russian scientists conduct autopsy on 44,000-year-old permafrost wolf carcass

In Russia's far northeastern Yakutia region, local scientists are performing an autopsy on a wolf frozen in permafrost for around 44,000 years, a find they said was the first of its kind. Found by chance by locals in Yakutia's Abyyskiy district in 2021, the wolf's body is only now being properly examined by scientists.