Two NASA astronauts, Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita Williams, have been stranded in space for over two months after what was supposed to be an eight-day mission. Their space journey, initially planned to last just over a week, could now extend to a year.
In a significant milestone for Boeing, the Starliner spacecraft, carrying the two astronauts, was launched on June 5 after two delays. This marked Starliner's first manned flight. However, the mission faced setbacks when a helium leak was discovered, delaying the return to Earth four times as engineers struggled to identify the source of the problem.
Recently, NASA announced that additional issues were found with the spacecraft, including leaks in the propulsion system and malfunctioning rocket engines. These complications mean that a safe return for Wilmore and Williams may not happen anytime soon.
While NASA is considering the option of returning Starliner to Earth without the crew, no final decision has been made. If Starliner returns unmanned, NASA might send a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to retrieve the astronauts, in which case the astronauts would be stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) until the Crew Dragon arrives in February 2025. The exact return date and method for the astronauts remain uncertain.
Even if Wilmore and Williams manage to return to Earth by September, the possibility of similar unexpected problems occurring in future missions is high, especially as more advanced spacecraft are developed for missions to the Moon and beyond. Victor Glover, the pilot for Artemis 2, the first mission beyond Earth's orbit since 1972, emphasized the complexity of space missions: "If we give the impression that we have a routine job, we do a disservice to both the public and our profession. Even on Starliner's 10th flight, our mission will be just as challenging and complex."
Despite the challenges, the astronauts are not in danger. The Starliner spacecraft has ample water, food supplies, and comfortable living conditions, including "seven bedrooms and three bathrooms," according to astronaut Victor Glover, who previously spent six months aboard Starliner.
The final decision on how and when Wilmore and Williams will return to Earth is expected to be made in the coming weeks, with NASA weighing various options while investigations into Starliner's technical issues continue.
