 "Why is Sunita Williams still stuck in space? When can she be expected to return to Earth?")
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, two astronauts aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, find themselves facing an extended and uncertain mission duration in space. Initially planned to last only a few days, the mission has been fraught with technical challenges, leading to a reconsideration of the mission’s length and their return date to Earth.
The Starliner spacecraft, launched on June 5, encountered multiple helium leaks and thruster failures shortly after reaching the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft’s service module, crucial for power during flight, faced significant issues, including several helium leaks that rendered five thrusters inoperable. As reported by CNN, four of these thrusters are now functioning normally.
Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Programme manager, stated that NASA is considering extending the Starliner mission from 45 to 90 days to address these issues thoroughly. “We’re just looking at the timeline to execute the test in New Mexico and then review the data,” Stich said.
“And that’s what’s really the long pole, I would say, determining a landing date.” He added, “We’re not in a rush to come home.”
How are Boeing and NASA tackling the problem?
Boeing and NASA plan to conduct ground tests in New Mexico to better understand the thruster malfunctions. Mark Nappi, Boeing’s vice president and programme manager, highlighted the importance of these tests. “If the test in New Mexico comes back and gives us all the answers, then we can just undock and come home,” Nappi said.
.@NASA and @BoeingSpace teams held a Mission Dress Rehearsal overnight in New Mexico to prepare for the return of #Starliner. More 📷: https://t.co/LNrWA1HBD8 pic.twitter.com/qr1xOxjMbQ
— NASA HQ PHOTO (@nasahqphoto) June 16, 2024
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“If it comes back and says, ‘Here’s 80 per cent of the answer. And if you just run one more docked hot fire test on the Starliner in orbit, then you can get 100 per cent of the answers’ – then we want Starliner to be there so that we can get that information.”
Meanwhile, what have Williams & Wilmore been up to?
While awaiting further instructions, Williams and Wilmore have integrated with the ISS crew, conducting routine tasks and scientific experiments. The astronauts are safe and have access to food, resources, and communication means within the ISS. The station is well-equipped for long-term stays and is regularly resupplied by missions from Earth.
The Expedition 71 crew members, including Williams and Wilmore, are actively engaged in various tasks on the ISS. They have been involved in packing a US cargo craft, cleaning the station, and studying techniques of futuristic piloting.
The orbital residents aboard the station continue prepping for a spacewalk while servicing science, video, and orbital plumbing hardware. More... https://t.co/lSC8n62SR1 pic.twitter.com/rNt6sYXMi5
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) June 27, 2024
NASA Flight Engineer Matthew Dominick and other crew members have been working on loading trash, discarding gear, and conducting eye exams to understand microgravity’s effects on vision.
Williams and Wilmore have also been working on space botany experiments, replacing cameras and sensors in the Plant Habitat growth chamber. NASA continues to evaluate the Starliner’s propulsion system performance before planning the return journey.
Wait, so are they ‘stuck’ in space?
The astronauts were initially scheduled to return on June 13, but their return has been delayed twice now. The current expectation is that they might return sometime after July 2, pending the completion of ground tests and safety assessments.
NASA has refuted claims that the astronauts are “stuck” in space, asserting that the Starliner can still undock and fly under emergency conditions. However, the spacecraft can only remain docked to the ISS for 45 days due to the Harmony module’s limited fuel capacity.
Cargo packing, advanced research, orbital plumbing, and a spacewalk conference filled the astronauts' and cosmonauts' day aboard the station. More... https://t.co/D3ftrDHiDp pic.twitter.com/HSPim3Gw74
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) June 26, 2024
Beyond this period, alternate transport options such as SpaceX’s Crew Dragon or the Russian Soyuz could be used to bring the astronauts back to Earth.
Isn’t all this costing way more than estimated?
The Starliner programme has already exceeded its $4.5 billion NASA budget by $1.5 billion and has faced numerous delays. The current mission’s complications add to Boeing’s financial burden and its ongoing struggle with quality and safety issues across its product lines.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which falls under the same NASA Commercial Crew Programme, has successfully completed its first test flight in 2020 and has been routinely flying missions since then. Boeing’s Starliner, designed from scratch, is still undergoing its first crewed test flight.
Nappi defended the mission, stating, “We’ve got a really good test flight that’s been accomplished so far, and it’s being viewed rather negatively.” He stated that the mission has provided valuable data for refining the spacecraft for future missions.
Isn’t space debris a major issue?
In an unrelated incident, a defunct Russian satellite, RESURS-P1, broke into over 100 pieces of debris, prompting precautionary measures from the US Space Command. The debris cloud, consisting of around 180 pieces, poses a risk to spacecraft and satellites operating in crowded orbits. This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of managing space debris and ensuring the safety of space missions.
The growing amount of space debris raises concerns about the Kessler syndrome, a scenario where collisions between debris fragments exponentially increase the amount of space junk, complicating satellite operations and space missions.
As NASA and Boeing work to resolve the technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft, Williams and Wilmore continue their extended stay on the ISS. The mission’s outcome will have significant implications for Boeing’s role in NASA’s Commercial Crew Programme and the future of human spaceflight.
With inputs from agencies
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