Two astronauts, Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams, could be stranded in a malfunctioning Boeing capsule until 2025.
Astronauts Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams are currently facing a prolonged and unexpected space mission.
Originally scheduled for an eight-day journey, their mission could now extend until 2025 due to significant malfunctions in the Boeing Starliner capsule.
The delays are caused by severe issues with the spacecraft.
Two astronauts are stuck in space due to issues with their mission.
The Boeing Starliner was launched on June 5, 2024. However, astronauts Barry Wilmore, 61, and Suni Williams, 58, embarked on what was supposed to be a brief space mission. The crew is now facing technical challenges with the Boeing spacecraft.
However, issues began to surface shortly after their departure from the International Space Station (ISS).
The mission, which was initially planned to last only eight days, now faces the possibility of extending for up to seven months. This is due to serious technical problems with their spacecraft.
Technical challenges that the couple faced during the mission
The Boeing Starliner has experienced multiple technical failures. These issues are raising concerns about the safety and viability of the mission. The capsule has suffered.
– Five helium leaks: These leaks have compromised the integrity of the spacecraft’s systems.
– Five failed maneuvering thrusters: Essential for precise navigation and adjustments, these thrusters have malfunctioned.
– A propellant valve issue: One of the propellant valves failed to close completely, further complicating the mission.
These issues have led to fears that astronauts might only have a limited window of survival.
Initially, it was believed that Wilmore and Williams had a maximum of 72 days of life support. Additionally, it is now feared that they could be stranded in space until 2025.
Contingency plans and delays
Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, has discussed potential solutions if the Starliner is deemed too risky for a return journey.
Stich said: “We have been working with SpaceX to ensure they are ready to respond with Crew-9 as a contingency.
“We need to probably decide, likely in the middle of August, one path or the other to go ahead and meet the launch date for Crew-9.”
One possibility is utilizing SpaceX’s Crew-9 return flight, which may be available by February 2025.
However, delays have pushed the planned launch date from August 18 to September 24, 2024.
Stich shared the importance of having contingency plans: “We have been working with SpaceX to ensure they are ready to respond with Crew-9 as a backup.
We need to decide, likely in mid-August, which path to take to align with the Crew-9 launch schedule.”
The incident is under ongoing investigation
NASA’s engineers are currently conducting tests on spare thrusters in the New Mexico desert. They aim to identify the root cause of the Starliner’s failures.
Of the five thrusters that failed as the spacecraft approached the ISS, four have been reactivated.
This ongoing investigation aims to address the technical issues and ensure future missions are not similarly affected.
Additionally, this mission marks Boeing’s first crewed test flight with the Starliner.
Previous tests in 2019 and 2022 encountered significant problems, including software issues and additional technical malfunctions.
The current situation underscores the challenges Boeing faces in achieving a reliable and safe space travel system.