2024-08-27 04:33:13
Washington: American space agency NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is stuck in space. She went to space with her partner Butch Wilmore via Boeing Starliner. She flew to space on June 5. She was supposed to return from space after 8 days. But even after two months, she has not been able to return. Helium leak and thruster malfunction were observed in the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Meanwhile, news has come that if they return from Starliner, their lives may be in danger. According to a report, former commander of US military space systems Rudy Ridolfi highlighted the risks associated with re-entry into the atmosphere. He said that if there is a problem in the re-entry of the spacecraft, a big risk will arise. If there is a problem in the thruster, the Starliner can get stuck in space. Then the astronauts will be left with only 96 hours of oxygen. He says that due to misalignment during re-entry, the capsule can bounce into the atmosphere and remain in orbit. At the same time, he also fears that the Starliner may burn due to the wrong angle, which will put the lives of astronauts in danger.
NASA will hold a meeting for return
The US space agency ‘National Aeronautics and Space Administration’ (NASA) will decide this weekend whether Boeing’s new capsule is safe for the return of two astronauts including Sunita Williams from the International Space Station (ISS), who have been waiting to return to Earth since June. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and other top officials will meet on Saturday after which an announcement in this regard is likely.
Will we have to stay in space till 2025?
Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore flew into space on Boeing’s Starliner on June 5. During this test flight, the thruster malfunctioned and due to the helium leak, NASA kept the capsule on the station and engineers are considering what to do next. SpaceX can bring the astronauts back, but for this they will have to stay there till next February. They were to return a week or two after reaching the station. If NASA decides that the return of astronauts from SpaceX is the right way, then the Starliner will return to Earth empty in September.
Testing is happening on the ground
NASA said engineers are assessing a new computer model for the ‘Starliner thruster’. NASA said every risk would be analyzed while making the final decision. Boeing said earlier this month that extensive testing of the ‘thruster’ in space and on the ground showed that Starliner is capable of bringing astronauts back safely. This was Boeing’s first test flight with a crew on board. After the ‘Space Shuttle’ was withdrawn from service, NASA has entrusted Boeing and SpaceX with the task of transporting astronauts to the space station. ‘SpaceX’ has been doing this work since 2020.
With agency input.