Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) due to malfunctions on Boeing’s Starliner
16 august 2024 в 01:28
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since the beginning of June due to malfunctions on their spacecraft, Boeing’s Starliner.
As the mission has now lasted over two months, significantly exceeding the planned eight days, NASA has finally provided a clearer update on when and how Williams, 58, and Wilmore, 60, will return to Earth.
During a phone conference on August 14, NASA confirmed that both astronauts are feeling well aboard the ISS. Joe Acaba, Chief of the Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, noted that unexpected delays are something astronauts are prepared for.
«This is part of our job», - he explained. «We understand that launch dates may shift, mission duration may change in real-time, so as professionals they are handling it excellently».
Earlier on Wednesday, NASA stated that they are still deciding whether to leave the two astronauts — both retired Navy captains with experience in long-duration space missions — on the ISS until the beginning of next year and send their problematic Starliner spacecraft back empty.
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s Deputy Administrator for Space Operations, shared that his team will likely complete an analysis of the best way to bring the astronauts home within a week, followed by a formal review in the last two weeks of August.
«We have time before we bring Starliner home, and we want to use that time wisely», - Bowersox said.
With this update, Williams and Wilmore will have to wait another two weeks to find out whether they will be landing on Starliner for their return to Earth or using SpaceX’s Dragon capsules.
Switching to SpaceX will require two out of the four astronauts assigned to the next flight, currently scheduled for the end of September, to transfer. Wilmore and Williams will take the empty seats in the SpaceX Dragon capsule after completing their six-month mission — which will require the two astronauts to stay on the ISS until February 2025.
Although Boeing was not present at the August 14 press conference, the company previously confirmed its confidence in Starliner’s ability to successfully address malfunctions — including leaks in propulsion-related pipelines and five faulty thrusters — for the astronauts' return.
«We still believe in Starliner’s capability and its flight logic», - the company’s statement from August 9 reads. «If NASA decides to change the mission, we will take the necessary steps to adjust Starliner for an uncrewed return»
As the mission has now lasted over two months, significantly exceeding the planned eight days, NASA has finally provided a clearer update on when and how Williams, 58, and Wilmore, 60, will return to Earth.
During a phone conference on August 14, NASA confirmed that both astronauts are feeling well aboard the ISS. Joe Acaba, Chief of the Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, noted that unexpected delays are something astronauts are prepared for.
«This is part of our job», - he explained. «We understand that launch dates may shift, mission duration may change in real-time, so as professionals they are handling it excellently».
Earlier on Wednesday, NASA stated that they are still deciding whether to leave the two astronauts — both retired Navy captains with experience in long-duration space missions — on the ISS until the beginning of next year and send their problematic Starliner spacecraft back empty.
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s Deputy Administrator for Space Operations, shared that his team will likely complete an analysis of the best way to bring the astronauts home within a week, followed by a formal review in the last two weeks of August.
«We have time before we bring Starliner home, and we want to use that time wisely», - Bowersox said.
With this update, Williams and Wilmore will have to wait another two weeks to find out whether they will be landing on Starliner for their return to Earth or using SpaceX’s Dragon capsules.
Switching to SpaceX will require two out of the four astronauts assigned to the next flight, currently scheduled for the end of September, to transfer. Wilmore and Williams will take the empty seats in the SpaceX Dragon capsule after completing their six-month mission — which will require the two astronauts to stay on the ISS until February 2025.
Although Boeing was not present at the August 14 press conference, the company previously confirmed its confidence in Starliner’s ability to successfully address malfunctions — including leaks in propulsion-related pipelines and five faulty thrusters — for the astronauts' return.
«We still believe in Starliner’s capability and its flight logic», - the company’s statement from August 9 reads. «If NASA decides to change the mission, we will take the necessary steps to adjust Starliner for an uncrewed return»
© Kolganov Andrey
