August 24, 2024, 10:43 PM
August 24, 2024, 10:43 PM
Two NASA astronauts stranded in space for more than two months will return to Earth in February 2025 on a SpaceX spacecraft.
NASA announced that the Boeing Starliner spacecraft on which astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) will return to Earth “uncrewed.”
Technical problems with Starliner have led to the decision to extend the stay of the two astronauts on the ISS until February 2025 so they can return on the SpaceX Crew Dragon ship.
Both lifted off on June 5 for what was supposed to be an eight-day mission, but will now spend about eight months in orbit.
The Starliner encountered technical problems on its journey to the International Space Station that forced a rethink of the mission. The ship suffered leaks of helium, the gas that propels fuel to the propulsion system, and malfunctions in several thrusters.
This ship was Boeing’s first attempt to send a manned mission into space after obtaining multimillion-dollar contracts from NASA to transport its astronauts. Boeing’s contract was worth US$4.2 billion, while Elon Musk’s company SpaceX, also contracted for this purpose, received US$2.6 billion.
SpaceX, which has already flown nine manned flights into space for NASA, as well as some commercial missions, will now be responsible for returning Williams and Wilmore to Earth.
Boeing and NASA engineers have spent months trying to understand the technical problems with the Starliner spacecraft. They conducted tests and collected data, both in space and on Earth, in hopes of identifying the cause and finding a way to return astronauts home safely aboard the Starliner, but Finally, another ship will transport them back.
“It’s a risk”
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said at a news conference Saturday that Boeing has been working closely with NASA to understand what improvements are needed to the spacecraft.
“Spaceflight is risky, even in its safest form and even in its most routine missions, and a test flight, by its nature, is neither safe nor routine,” Nelson said.
“Our main priority is safety,” he said.
The extra time for astronauts on the ISS will give them time until SpaceX launchesscheduled for late September.
It was supposed to have four astronauts on board, but will instead travel to the space station with two, leaving room for Wilmore and Williams to join them and return to Earth on the ship at the end of the mission, planned for next February.
NASA said both astronauts had previously completed two long-duration stays in space and understood the risks of the test flight, including the possibility of remaining aboard the station longer than planned.
The organization said Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, “fully support” plans for their return and will spend the next few months performing scientific work, space station maintenance and possibly some “spacewalking.”
Boeing’s Starliner had already suffered delays of several years due to setbacks in its development.Previous unmanned flights have also suffered technical problems.
The aeronautical company stated in a statement that it remains focused “on safety of the crew and the spacecraft.”
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