Introduction
NASA’s Starliner spacecraft has been making headlines recently, and for all the wrong reasons. The spacecraft, designed to transport astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), has been plagued by technical issues, causing delays and uncertainties for the astronauts on board. In this article, we’ll delve into the latest developments and explore what went wrong.
Astronauts Stuck on ISS
Last month, NASA announced that astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore would return to Earth in February, but not on the Starliner spacecraft. Instead, they would be returning on a SpaceX crewed mission. But what happened to the Starliner, and why did the astronauts have to stay on the ISS for longer than expected?
A US astronaut stuck on the International Space Station said Friday he believed Boeing’s Starliner could have carried him home if more time had been available to work through the beleaguered spacecraft’s issues.
Last week, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams watched the Boeing Starliner they rode to the ISS three months prior head back to Earth without them.
“We could have gotten to the point, I believe, where we could have returned on Starliner, but we just simply ran out of time,” Wilmore said Friday in a video press conference.
On June 5, Wilmore and Williams took off aboard the Starliner as part of the vessel’s first crewed mission, in what was originally meant to be eight days in orbit.
After the Starliner ran into several technical issues, their stay is now expected to last for eight months.
Last month, NASA decided Williams and Wilmore would return in February with the Crew-9 flight of Boeing’s aerospace rival SpaceX.
Though Wilmore said he was “absolutely not” let down by the decision to stay in space, he indicated there were “disagreements” about how to handle the return.
“In this case, we found some things that we just could not get comfortable with putting us back in the Starliner when we had other options,” Wilmore said.
Williams said she was “so happy” Starliner landed on Earth without issues, even if they were not on it.
“We wanted to take Starliner to the completion and land back on land at home, but you know, you have to turn the page and look at the next opportunity,” she said.
Both astronauts said the support they have received has helped them transition to the new return timeline.
“I can sum it up in one word, and that’s resiliency,” Wilmore said. “We are tasked — and we learn, and we train — to handle all types of situations.”
Conclusion
The Starliner’s technical issues have caused significant delays and uncertainties for the astronauts on board. While the spacecraft has successfully landed on Earth, the astronauts will now have to wait until February to return to Earth on a SpaceX crewed mission. Despite the setbacks, the astronauts remain optimistic and are focusing on the next opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happened to the Starliner spacecraft?
The Starliner spacecraft experienced several technical issues, causing delays and uncertainties for the astronauts on board. Despite efforts to resolve the issues, the spacecraft was unable to return to Earth as planned.
Q: Why did the astronauts have to stay on the ISS for longer than expected?
The astronauts were unable to return to Earth on the Starliner spacecraft due to technical issues. As a result, they had to stay on the ISS for longer than expected.
Q: What is the new return timeline for the astronauts?
The astronauts will now return to Earth in February on a SpaceX crewed mission.
Q: How did the astronauts feel about the decision to stay on the ISS for longer?
While the astronauts were initially disappointed, they have since adjusted to the new return timeline and are focusing on the next opportunity.
Q: What support have the astronauts received during this time?
The astronauts have received support from their team and have been able to adjust to the new return timeline.
