The future of Starliner astronauts remains uncertain, but there is hope for a return from SpaceX
Kyiv • UNN
NASA is deciding whether the Starliner astronauts will be able to return on their ship due to technical problems. It is possible to return to SpaceX early next year, which will extend the mission from 8 days to 8 months.
It is still unclear how long the two NASA astronauts will have to stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). It is assumed that they may fly on a SpaceX ship, but only next year.
Writes UNN with reference to BBC News.
Details
NASA is to decide by the end of the month whether astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore of the Boeing Starliner spaceplane will be able to return from the International Space Station in their own vehicle or whether they will have to wait for a SpaceX ship to rescue them.
At a press conference on August 14, NASA representatives once again announced that the astronauts' return was postponed. If the engineers recognize that it is still dangerous to fly on the Starliner, Williams and Wilmore may be able to return on the ships of Boeing's competitor in private space exploration, SpaceX.
It is likely that they will fly on a SpaceX ship only early next year. In this case, the expedition, which was planned for eight days, will be delayed for eight months.
HelpHelp
The Starliner is a partially reusable spacecraft that consists of a capsule about three meters high for the crew and a service module. Unlike Elon Musk's SpaceX Crew Dragon, it lands on the Earth instead of water.
In May 2022, the Starliner made its first successful unmanned flight to the ISS and spent four days there.
Mission with Sweeney Williams and Butch Wilmore
“The Starliner launched on June 5, 2024, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, despite a small helium leak that has not been fully repaired.
This gas is used to supply fuel to the engine system, which is used for maneuvering in space and braking during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. The leakage was minimal, and engineers decided that it would not affect the overall course of the mission and allowed the launch
However, four more such leaks were recorded during the mission, and five of the 28 maneuvering engines failed during the approach to the ISS.
Hit by a competitor
If the two astronauts do indeed return with SpaceX, it will be a serious blow - even humiliation - for Boeing, which believes that the Starliner is a reliable means of returning two astronauts.
The development program for this spacecraft has already cost Boeing an additional $1.6 billion. It has suffered numerous setbacks, including an unsuccessful first unmanned flight in 2019, and this first manned mission was launched years late.
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