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Space & Astronomy

Starliner astronauts could be stranded on ISS until next year

By T.K. Randall
August 8, 2024 · Comment icon 310 comments
Starliner docking with the ISS.
The mission hasn't gone quite according to plan. Image Credit: Bob Hines / NASA
The pair had been expecting to return to Earth within mere days, but so far they've been in space for over two months.
When Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on its debut crewed mission back in June, they had expected to remain aboard the International Space Station for around 8 days before returning to Earth.

As things stand, however, a plethora of technical issues with the vehicle has prevented them from leaving and it doesn't look as though they will be getting home anytime soon.

These issues, which include leaks in the propulsion system and faulty thrusters, mean that the Starliner spacecraft may not be entirely safe for the astronauts to return in.

While proceeding with the return flight is still potentially on the cards, if NASA thinks it would be too dangerous then Wilmore and Williams will likely have to wait for an alternative option.

"Our prime option is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner," said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program
"However, we have done the requisite planning to make sure we have other options open."

One such alternative option would be to wait for another crewed mission that will bring two more astronauts to the orbital outpost in September and then return with them in February 2025.

This would mean that the pair will have spent 8 months, rather than 8 days, aboard the ISS.

On the plus side, both astronauts have been getting on fine.

"We've been thoroughly busy up here, integrated right into the crew," said Williams who is certainly no stranger to long stays aboard the station.

"It feels like coming back home. It feels good to float around. It feels good to be in space and work up here with the International Space Station team. So yeah, it's great to be up here."

Source: BBC News | Comments (310)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #301 Posted by Waspie_Dwarf 7 months ago
 
Comment icon #302 Posted by Waspie_Dwarf 7 months ago
 
Comment icon #303 Posted by pellinore 7 months ago
I hope you are right. If they have always had the capability to return home, I wonder a bit why they haven't.
Comment icon #304 Posted by Waspie_Dwarf 7 months ago
The fact that Starliner made a safe and normal landing yesterday rather proves, beyond any doubt, that they always had the capability to return home and were never stranded. The main reason the mission was extended was because Starliner had a few issues with its thrusters during docking.These issues were mostly resolved before docking was complete, but NASA and Boeing wanted to be sure that the issues would not occur again. Unfortunately the thrusters were in the service module of the Starliner, which is discarded during reentry and burns up. This means that there is no way for engineers to in... [More]
Comment icon #305 Posted by pellinore 6 months ago
The stranded astronauts are reporting hearing strange noises:  
Comment icon #306 Posted by Waspie_Dwarf 6 months ago
Not anymore they aren't.  This is an old story.  The Starliner returned to Earth 18 days ago.
Comment icon #307 Posted by pellinore 6 months ago
With some unknown alien intelligence on board no doubt, as this old series foretold: The Quatermass Experiment - Wikipedia
Comment icon #308 Posted by Waspie_Dwarf 6 months ago
NASA Astronauts Wilmore, Williams Complete Move to Crew-9 Spacecraft Related story:  
Comment icon #309 Posted by Still Waters 5 months ago
NASA Addresses Rumors About Health of Starliner Astronaut on the International Space Station—Again The space agency’s chief health and medical officer refutes claims that Suni Williams, who is on the unexpectedly extended Boeing Starliner mission, appears unhealthily thin https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nasa-addresses-rumors-about-health-of-starliner-astronaut-on-the-international-space-station-again-180985478/
Comment icon #310 Posted by Hammerclaw 5 months ago
Suni looks like Twiggy, but she always was thin.


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