NASA has only 19 days remaining to return astronaut Sunita Williams to Earth safely, and they are working diligently to meet this critical deadline. Currently, both Sunita Williams and astronaut Butch Wilmore are on board the International Space Station (ISS). They are stuck due to technical issues with their spacecraft.
The Boeing Starliner successfully docked at the ISS on June 13, 2024, following a mission that commenced on June 5, 2024. The spacecraft launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This was the first manned flight for Boeing’s commercial crew program. The mission was to test the Starliner’s capabilities. It was a significant milestone for Boeing.
Major Issue With Starliner
Upon approaching the ISS, the spacecraft faced a major issue when five of its 28 thrusters unexpectedly shut down, posing a significant problem as thrusters are essential for maneuvering the spacecraft.
The spacecraft cannot safely undock from the ISS without them. Engineers found five small helium leaks in the spacecraft’s service module. Helium is used to pressurize the fuel tanks. Without proper pressure, the spacecraft cannot return to Earth safely.
NASA and Boeing engineers are fixing the issues. According to Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, no return timeline for Williams and Wilmore has yet been determined. The spacecraft’s safe re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere depends on the thrusters and helium systems. Any malfunction could pose significant risks to the astronauts’ safety.
Crew-9 Mission
The upcoming Crew-9 mission further complicates the situation. The Crew-9 mission is scheduled for launch no earlier than August 18, 2024. NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Nick Hague, Stephanie Wilson, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov will be transported to the ISS on this mission.
The docking port currently occupied by the Starliner must be cleared to make way for the new crew. “If the Starliner continues to malfunction, NASA may need to find another way to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth.” One option is to use a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
Williams and Wilmore are carrying out their mission activities aboard the ISS. Through space-to-Earth calls, they actively share updates on their research and the Starliner’s status. On July 10, 2024, they conducted a press briefing to share valuable details about their prolonged mission and the continued mission to repair their spacecraft.
NASA faces an urgent situation as they have only 19 days to resolve the issues with the Starliner. For NASA the safety of the astronauts is the top priority. Engineers are fully committed to finding a solution, and the world is closely watching, hopeful for a successful rescue.
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