Nasa Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are unable to return, owing to technical problems.
It is going to be almost a month now since the Starliner docked at ISS on June 13, 2024.
NASA is trying to revive the Starliner, which can include potentially using a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
NASA had sent its astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to space a while back. They did land at the International Space Station (ISS) but are now unable to return, owing to unexpected technical problems with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. It is going to be almost a month now since the Starliner docked at ISS on June 13, 2024. Now, NASA has a crucial 19-day deadline to bring back Williams and Wilmore from space safely.
What went wrong with Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore?
For those uninitiated, Williams and Wilmore launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 5, 2024/ This was the inaugural manned flight for Boeing’s commercial crew program. With this mission, they were trying to test the Starliner’s capabilities. But as the spacecraft approached the ISS, five of its 28 thrusters unexpectedly shut down. Additionally, engineers discovered five small helium leaks in the spacecraft’s service module. Because of this, the Starliner was unable to safely undock and return to Earth.
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NASA also needs to manage the docking ports at ISS. The Starliner needs to be undocked as soon as possible to be able to accommodate the upcoming Crew-9 mission, which is scheduled for launch no earlier than August 18, 2024.
NASA is trying to revive the Starliner, but if it remains inoperative, then NASA might have to consider alternative methods to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth. This can include potentially using a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
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Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, said that a return timeline for Williams and Wilmore has not yet been decided on. The thrusters and helium systems are really important for the spacecraft’s safe re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, and any malfunction could pose significant risks to the astronauts’ safety.
On July 10, 2024, held a press conference from space and shared their thoughts about the extended stay and the ongoing efforts to repair their spacecraft.
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