NASA Says Sunita Williams Could Be Stuck In Space Till Feb 2025: Here’s What We Know So Far
Sunita Willaims could return to Earth Via SpaceX's Crew Dragon in February 2025, if Starliner is deemed unsafe.
NASA astronauts - Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams - went on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) but their flight with Boeing's Starliner could now be extended by eight months.
The space agency, on Wednesday, stated that the astronauts sent to the International Space Station by Boeing's Starliner on a 10-day mission might have to wait until February 2025 if Starliner is considered unsafe to return to Earth. And in that case, they have to make a return to Earth via one of the other options, including SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
For those caught unaware, Williams and Wilmore took off aboard the Boeing Starliner in June, and they have been at the ISS since the sixth of that month. Since the Starliner faced glitches in the propulsion system post a series of helium leaks, NASA is now analysing their several return options including using SpaceX Crew Dragon. If that becomes a possibility, the Crew Dragon capsule will be able to bring back Starliner's crew of Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to Earth in February 2025.
Meanwhile, at the ISS, all the nine astronauts are safe, and have enough food and supplies.
Coming back to the Starliner spacecraft, it was launched in June and carried the two astronauts to the ISS. It was a high-stakes test mission undertaken by NASA to assess if the spacecraft can be used for routine astronaut flights. While the mission was expected to last about eight days, it has been facing an array of challenges with the craft's propulsion system.
Both Boeing and NASA have been trying to fix the glitch. Boeing, in fact, has been undertaking a testing campaign to address issues like thruster failures and helium leaks. As per the latest data, the overheating thrusters cause Teflon seals to warp, and it is when the propellant flow is restricted. Now NASA is uncertain whether to take the risk of a Starliner return or choose an alternative of using Crew Dragon. If Nasa picks the latter, Boeing will have to fix the spacecraft for an uncrewed return, and it would be a major setback for Boeing in itself.
Meanwhile, the US space agency confirmed that Williams, who is a veteran and is on her third space mission, investigated several things at ISS using fluid physics, such as surface tension, with an attempt to overcome the lack of gravity when watering and nourishing plants grown in space. The format of gardening in space will help to understand how plants grow and respond to microgravity conditions, and might be beneficial for humans to set up various bases in the solar system.
Sunita Willaims could return to Earth Via SpaceX's Crew Dragon in February 2025, if Starliner is deemed unsafe.
NASA astronauts - Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams - went on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) but their flight with Boeing's Starliner could now be extended by eight months.
The space agency, on Wednesday, stated that the astronauts sent to the International Space Station by Boeing's Starliner on a 10-day mission might have to wait until February 2025 if Starliner is considered unsafe to return to Earth. And in that case, they have to make a return to Earth via one of the other options, including SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
For those caught unaware, Williams and Wilmore took off aboard the Boeing Starliner in June, and they have been at the ISS since the sixth of that month. Since the Starliner faced glitches in the propulsion system post a series of helium leaks, NASA is now analysing their several return options including using SpaceX Crew Dragon. If that becomes a possibility, the Crew Dragon capsule will be able to bring back Starliner's crew of Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to Earth in February 2025.
Meanwhile, at the ISS, all the nine astronauts are safe, and have enough food and supplies.
Coming back to the Starliner spacecraft, it was launched in June and carried the two astronauts to the ISS. It was a high-stakes test mission undertaken by NASA to assess if the spacecraft can be used for routine astronaut flights. While the mission was expected to last about eight days, it has been facing an array of challenges with the craft's propulsion system.
Both Boeing and NASA have been trying to fix the glitch. Boeing, in fact, has been undertaking a testing campaign to address issues like thruster failures and helium leaks. As per the latest data, the overheating thrusters cause Teflon seals to warp, and it is when the propellant flow is restricted. Now NASA is uncertain whether to take the risk of a Starliner return or choose an alternative of using Crew Dragon. If Nasa picks the latter, Boeing will have to fix the spacecraft for an uncrewed return, and it would be a major setback for Boeing in itself.
Meanwhile, the US space agency confirmed that Williams, who is a veteran and is on her third space mission, investigated several things at ISS using fluid physics, such as surface tension, with an attempt to overcome the lack of gravity when watering and nourishing plants grown in space. The format of gardening in space will help to understand how plants grow and respond to microgravity conditions, and might be beneficial for humans to set up various bases in the solar system.
