On Wednesday, NASA Officials Gave Few Details On The Status Of The Stranded Starliner Astronauts

Thursday, August 15, 2024, 10:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Ryan Metz: Englebrook Independent News,

WASHINGTON, DC.- On Wednesday, NASA officials provided few details on exactly when Boeing’s Starliner will be able to correct the issues that have left two astronauts stranded aboard the International Space Station. 

     Two months after their anticipated return, two American astronauts are still stuck on board the International Space Station. The delay in their return has been caused by mechanical issues in Boeing’s made Starliner, which has turned the eight-day stay of Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams into a months-long stay aboard the space station.

     The faults with the spacecraft are centered around helium leaks which are the key components in the thrust system of the Starliner. With numerous helium leaks, it is not certain if the Starliner Spacecraft will be able to function properly in order to return Butch and Suni safely back to Earth.

     NASA and Boeing continue to try to work out solutions to bring the two back home on the Starliner, but it does not seem likely that this will be possible.

     A fallback for the astronauts and NASA would be to utilize the SpaceX capsule that is scheduled to dock at the International Space Station in September for a February return. SpaceX is the leading competitor of Boeing’s spacecraft program. 

     Delays in space launches and returns are not uncommon. On Earth, delays are often due to weather complicating the launch, while the position of the space station in orbit around the Earth can also cause delays in returns. For both launches and returns, there are often narrow windows for success. For that reason, the International Space Station is stocked with extra rations for just such an event.

     As long as SpaceX does not experience significant delays, both astronauts should expect to return at the end of February 2025. As for now, Butch and Suni find themselves stranded on an episode of Boeing’s “Gilligan’s Island.”