NASA is racing against time to safely return astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS) due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The Starliner, which docked at the ISS on June 13, 2024, was initially scheduled to return to Earth after a week-long mission. However, problems with the spacecraft's thrusters and helium systems have delayed their return, leaving NASA with only 19 days to resolve the issues before the Crew-9 mission arrives.
Image Credit: NASA
The Starliner's technical issues began when five of its 28 thrusters unexpectedly shut down during docking, and engineers discovered five small helium leaks in the spacecraft's service module. These malfunctions have prevented the Starliner from safely undocking and returning to Earth.
NASA and Boeing engineers are working tirelessly to diagnose and fix the problems, but a return timeline for Williams and Wilmore has not yet been determined. The situation is further complicated by the need to manage docking ports at the ISS, as the Starliner must be undocked to accommodate the upcoming Crew-9 mission.
The Crew-9 mission, scheduled for launch no earlier than August 18, 2024, will transport NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Nick Hague, and Stephanie Wilson, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. If the Starliner remains inoperative, NASA may have to consider alternative methods to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth, including potentially using a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
The Starliner program has faced numerous setbacks, including flammable protective tape, battery problems, and parachute system failures, which are expected to cost Boeing close to $1.5 billion in lost revenue. Boeing has taken an additional $125 million loss on the Starliner program, citing delays in completing the ongoing Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission. This adds to the company's previous losses, which total about $1.6 billion in charges on Starliner throughout the program. Most of these losses were incurred since a flawed initial uncrewed test flight in late 2019. The current state of the Starliner presents additional difficulties for the program as engineers race against time to fix technical problems and guarantee the astronauts' safe return.
Despite the challenges, Williams and Wilmore have remained in good spirits, continuing their mission activities aboard the ISS while awaiting a resolution. NASA's efforts to return the astronauts safely to Earth highlight the complexities and risks associated with human spaceflight, underscoring the importance of reliable spacecraft and contingency plans in the event of technical failures. With the deadline approaching in 19 days, the world watches closely, hoping for a successful resolution to this critical mission.
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