Two NASA astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, are currently stranded in space due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The spacecraft was supposed to return the astronauts to Earth after an eight-day mission, but has faced multiple problems, including helium leaks and malfunctioning thrusters.
NASA has had to reschedule the return of the astronauts multiple times, with no current set date for their return. If the latest targeted return date of 6 July is met, the astronauts will have spent a month in space instead of just over a week. The main issue with the Starliner spacecraft is its propulsion system, necessary to navigate through Earth’s atmosphere.
In the meantime, the astronauts are working on maintaining the spacecraft and testing its systems. They have replaced parts and conducted tests to ensure everything is in working order. The spacecraft can remain docked at the International Space Station for up to 45 days, with a potential extension to 72 days if needed.
If the Starliner spacecraft is unable to safely return the astronauts to Earth, there is a backup plan to send them home using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. While this scenario is considered unlikely, it would be embarrassing for Boeing, the company behind the Starliner program. Despite the current challenges, NASA and Boeing officials believe that the issues with the spacecraft do not warrant such extreme measures.
The importance of this mission lies in the fact that the Starliner spacecraft serves as a critical alternative to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which is currently the only shuttle available for astronauts from the US, Europe, Canada, and Japan to travel to and from the International Space Station. NASA commissioned both SpaceX and Boeing to develop commercial crew capsules in 2014, with SpaceX successfully launching astronauts in 2020 while Boeing has faced setbacks.
Boeing’s Starliner program has suffered significant losses, estimated to be around $1.5 billion, due to various technical challenges and delays. Despite these setbacks, NASA and Boeing remain committed to resolving the issues with the Starliner spacecraft to ensure the safe return of the stranded astronauts.
