2024-09-09 23:43:24
Undocking from the space station worked, the landing worked: those responsible at the space agency NASA are happy about the flight of the “Starliner”. But there were minor inconsistencies.
The safe landing of the troubled spacecraft “Starliner” on Earth has led to a huge sigh of relief at the US space agency NASA – but there were still problems with one of the engines. “It’s great that the “Starliner” is back,” said NASA manager Steve Stitch. Undocking from the International Space Station ISS and landing went really well, only minor inconsistencies occurred when entering the Earth’s atmosphere. But that was manageable, said Stitch. “Today was a great day.”
The capsule, manufactured by the US company Boeing, was only supposed to stay in space for eight days, but stayed for three months. On the outbound flight in June, five of the engines overheated and failed, and helium leaked out. Due to safety concerns, NASA officials decided to bring the capsule back without the crew. Astronaut Suni Williams and astronaut Barry Wilmore are to remain on the ISS until February (read more about this here).
Stitch explained that one of the 28 engines did not fire as planned during re-entry. Communication was tried in two different ways, but the engine did not respond. However, since the system is redundant, it was possible to respond in another way.
Now the “Starliner” is to be analyzed and further improved. For example, seals would have to be enlarged and thus made safer, and overheating of the engines should be prevented in the future.
The next flight of the “Starliner” will not take place in February as planned, but has been postponed to August 2025, said ISS manager Dana Weigel. However, NASA officials emphasized that they would continue to work with Boeing. NASA also uses spacecraft from the company SpaceX.
While “Starliner” landed safely on Earth, astronauts Williams and Wilmore remain stuck. “They have gotten used to the idea that their mission is being extended and have adapted well,” astronaut Dana Weigel, who currently works as an astronaut and director on the International Space Station, told the BBC. The two Americans have already completed long-term stays in space in the past and are following the special training programs designed to keep them healthy in weightlessness.
Weigel also reported that since a resupply mission in July, enough equipment and food have now arrived for Wilmore and Williams’ unplanned eight-month stay. “At first, the two had to borrow a lot of our clothing, but now all of the standard expedition equipment has arrived,” said Weigel. Another freighter is on the way.