Boeing Starliner astronauts may be delayed on the ISS until February 2025
20 august 2024 в 03:37
When Boeing’s Starliner capsule was launched on June 5, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were supposed to be in space for just eight days.
However, after thruster failures and helium leaks occurred before a safe docking with the International Space Station (ISS), NASA decided to postpone the return of the pair to Earth — potentially delaying it until February 2025.
«We probably don’t expect him back until February, February or March», - said Wilmore’s wife, Diana.
Wilmore, who is raising two daughters — 19-year-old Darin and 16-year-old Logan, was able to communicate with his family several times a day from the ISS.
«It's so cool. He shows us a lot of views of Earth. I especially like seeing the sunset», - said his eldest daughter.
Diana added: «He just takes it in, knowing that the Lord is in control of everything, and since the Lord is in control of it, he is content with where he is».
«You just have to accept it and expect the unexpected».
Suni’s husband, Michael Williams, mentioned last week that he doesn’t think she is disappointed to spend more time on the space station, telling The Wall Street Journal: «It's her happy place».
NASA’s chief astronaut, Joe Acaba, said at a press conference for the media on August 14: «If Butch and Suni do not return home on Starliner and stay aboard the station, they will have about eight months in orbit».
He added: «We have had several successful long-duration missions, even up to a year».
It is unclear whether Wilmore and Williams will have to spend another six months in space or if they will return home with a different crew in September. The second option, which NASA would be reluctant to pursue, is for the duo to return to Earth on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, operated by Elon Musk’s company.
Switching to SpaceX would require two of the four astronauts assigned to the next flight to transfer. Wilmore and Williams will take the available seats on the SpaceX Dragon capsule after completing their six-month mission, requiring two astronauts to remain on the ISS for another six months until February 2025.
«This motto you’ve heard, 'failure is not an option,' that’s why we’re staying here right now», - said Wilmore.
«We believe that the tests we are conducting — the ones we need to get the right answers, to give us the data we need for the return»
However, after thruster failures and helium leaks occurred before a safe docking with the International Space Station (ISS), NASA decided to postpone the return of the pair to Earth — potentially delaying it until February 2025.
«We probably don’t expect him back until February, February or March», - said Wilmore’s wife, Diana.
Wilmore, who is raising two daughters — 19-year-old Darin and 16-year-old Logan, was able to communicate with his family several times a day from the ISS.
«It's so cool. He shows us a lot of views of Earth. I especially like seeing the sunset», - said his eldest daughter.
Diana added: «He just takes it in, knowing that the Lord is in control of everything, and since the Lord is in control of it, he is content with where he is».
«You just have to accept it and expect the unexpected».
Suni’s husband, Michael Williams, mentioned last week that he doesn’t think she is disappointed to spend more time on the space station, telling The Wall Street Journal: «It's her happy place».
NASA’s chief astronaut, Joe Acaba, said at a press conference for the media on August 14: «If Butch and Suni do not return home on Starliner and stay aboard the station, they will have about eight months in orbit».
He added: «We have had several successful long-duration missions, even up to a year».
It is unclear whether Wilmore and Williams will have to spend another six months in space or if they will return home with a different crew in September. The second option, which NASA would be reluctant to pursue, is for the duo to return to Earth on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, operated by Elon Musk’s company.
Switching to SpaceX would require two of the four astronauts assigned to the next flight to transfer. Wilmore and Williams will take the available seats on the SpaceX Dragon capsule after completing their six-month mission, requiring two astronauts to remain on the ISS for another six months until February 2025.
«This motto you’ve heard, 'failure is not an option,' that’s why we’re staying here right now», - said Wilmore.
«We believe that the tests we are conducting — the ones we need to get the right answers, to give us the data we need for the return»
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
