When you think about astronauts being stranded in space, it may sound like a plot straight out of a Hollywood movie. However, for NASA’s Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams, this nightmare has become their reality.
These two brave astronauts were launched into space aboard the Boeing Starliner on June 5, with the mission originally planned to last only eight days. Little did they know that those eight days could turn into a seven-month ordeal.
Since their departure from the International Space Station (ISS) over 60 days ago, Wilmore and Williams have faced a series of malfunctions and setbacks. The most concerning of these include multiple helium leaks, five maneuvering thrusters failing, and a problem with a propellant valve closing properly.
Initially, it was estimated that Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, had a maximum of 72 days to survive in space. However, recent developments suggest that they could be trapped away from Earth until 2025.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, has admitted that returning the astronauts home on the Starliner might be too risky, and they may have to wait for SpaceX’s Crew-9 return flight, which is set for February. However, this contingency plan still means more waiting for the stranded astronauts.
The delay is not entirely in NASA’s hands either. SpaceX’s mission, originally scheduled for August 18, has been pushed back to September 24 due to unforeseen circumstances.
NASA’s engineers are working hard to investigate what went wrong with the Starliner and are testing spare thrusters in the New Mexico desert. Four of the five failed thrusters have been reactivated so far, giving some hope that a solution may be found.
It’s worth noting that this wasn’t Boeing’s first test flight, but it was the first one with a crew on board. The previous attempt in 2019, which was unmanned, failed due to software issues. The 2022 test flight revealed further problems for the spacecraft.
In the meantime, NASA’s competitor, SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, may need to step in and rescue Wilmore and Williams in the coming year.
While the situation is undoubtedly concerning, NASA remains optimistic that the astronauts will return home safely. The space agency is doing everything it can to ensure a successful rescue mission.
