Astronauts Williams and Wilmore not lost but stuck in space. .. .
When Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams blasted off on a test mission to the International Space Station on 5 June, they were expecting to be back home in a matter of days. Today is August 8 and they’re still there, delayed as problems with their Boeing Starliner craft remain unfixed.
According to the BBC, “Mr Wilmore, 61, and Ms Williams, 58, flew a Boeing Starliner spacecraft to the station. It was the first flight of its kind with people on board and was a test designed to see how the new spacecraft performs before it is used more jregularly. Problems, however, emerged as it made its approach. These included leaks in its propulsion system and some of its thrusters shutting down. So while they made it to the space station safely, they will need an alternative mode of transport to get home if the Starliner is not deemed safe to return to earth.”
NASA is bringing in additional experts to analyze the thruster failuresexperienced by Starliner before it docked. At the same time, NASA is looking more closely at SpaceX as a backup. At this point, “we could take either path,” said Ken Bowersox, NASA’s space operations mission chief.
Per the Independent, Boeing has insisted publicly it still stands behind the Starliner, which suffered mechanical issues on its way to docking at the ISS on June 6 for what was supposed to be an eight-day mission.
So far, SpaceX may be the safest option for return.
The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/space/nasa-boeing-starliner-butch-wilmore-sunita-williams-b2593041.html
