Two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, are currently facing an unexpected extension to their eight-day mission at the International Space Station (ISS). The Boeing Starliner spacecraft that transported them to the ISS is experiencing technical difficulties that could potentially jeopardize their safe return to Earth.
During a NASA media briefing on August 7, senior officials revealed concerns regarding multiple thrusters on the Starliner, including leaks in the propulsion system and some thrusters powering down. While the thrusters are currently functioning well in space, engineers on the ground are still grappling to understand the underlying physics of the problem. Until the propulsion system is deemed reliable, a prompt return for Williams and Wilmore in the Starliner is unlikely.
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s director of space operations, confirmed that the possibility of an uncrewed Starliner return has increased. “While they’re up there, we have extra crew, we have extra hands, and they can do a lot more work. But they’re also using up more consumables, more supplies. At some point, we need to bring those folks home and get back to a normal crew size on the ISS,” Bowersox told reporters during a press briefing.
In response to the Starliner’s predicament, NASA has devised a plan to bring the astronauts back safely. If the Starliner cannot return with the astronauts, NASA plans to dispatch a four-seater SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft with two astronauts on board. Williams and Wilmore would then remain on the ISS until February 2025 and return with the Crew Dragon. This would leave a total of seven crew members – four astronauts and three Russian cosmonauts – on the ISS.
Despite the challenges, the astronauts are making the most of their extended stay. They are actively participating in maintaining the station, conducting science experiments, and even training for the Olympics. Dana Weigel, the International Space Station program manager, praised the astronauts for their professionalism and readiness. “Butch and Suni are fully trained. They’re capable and current with EVA (spacewalks), with robotics, with all the things we need them to do,” Weigel told reporters.
This situation, while rare, is not unprecedented. In May 1991, Soviet cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev embarked on a mission to the space station Mir, initially expecting to spend a few months in orbit. However, the political turmoil on Earth, including the dissolution of the Soviet Union, led to an unexpected extension of his stay. Despite the uncertainties, Krikalev and his colleague, Aleksandr Volkov, maintained regular communication with mission control and received scheduled supply deliveries. “I heard all the stories that we were forgotten on the station. It was of course not true because every day we had communication with the ground, we had a scheduled flight to deliver everything, required experiments and data and food and water. Everything was coming to us basically on schedule,” Krikalev recounted to the BBC. After nearly a year in orbit, Krikalev returned to his new home country of Russia. He later achieved a historical milestone by becoming the first Russian to fly in the Space Shuttle and was among the first crew to live on the ISS.
The Starliner’s delay has also caused a postponement of the Crew-9 mission launch to the ISS. Originally scheduled for August 18, the mission has been pushed back by over a month due to the ongoing technical issues with the Starliner.
While NASA continues to work towards resolving the Starliner’s technical difficulties, the astronauts remain focused on their mission and the important work they are conducting in space. Their resilience and dedication serve as a testament to the spirit of exploration and scientific endeavor.
