Stranded Astronauts on the ISS Initiate an Extension of Their Stay Due to Boeing's Predicament
The astronauts from NASA, who flew to the International Space Station (ISS) on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, now face an extended stay aboard the station. NASA postponed the launch of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, assigned as the Starliner astronauts' return journey.
Initially scheduled for launch in February 2025, NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 will now take off no sooner than late March 2025. The reason behind this delay is to complete processing on a fresh Dragon spacecraft for the mission, as stated by NASA in an update. The new Dragon spacecraft is expected to reach SpaceX's processing facility in Florida during early January. "Manufacturing, assembly, testing, and final integration of a new spacecraft is an intricate process that requires meticulous attention," mentioned Steve Stich, head of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
Upon reaching the ISS with Crew-10 astronauts, the Dragon spacecraft will serve to ferry the SpaceX Crew-9 mission back to Earth. This group consists of NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
Williams and Wilmore embarked on their journey to the ISS on June 5, aboard Boeing's Starliner, marking the first crewed test flight for the spacecraft. Starliner's journey to the ISS was not without issues; five of its thrusters malfunctioned, and it developed five helium leaks. One of the leaks was identified before lift-off. The crew capsule was docked to the ISS for months as NASA and Boeing debated the safety of returning the astronauts to Earth on the Starliner. The team eventually opted to bring back an uncrewed Starliner and their crew members on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
This turn of events dealt a significant blow to Boeing's Starliner program, prolonging the two astronauts' stay on the ISS. Originally, they were expected to be in space for a week or so, but due to unforeseen circumstances, they were now required to spend months living and working in the space station. The delay in the Crew-10 launch has added an additional month to Williams and Wilmore's prolonged stay in space.
Usually, astronauts spend around six months on the ISS, with some spending a little over a year. Latest news articles have raised questions about Williams' health as a result of her extended stay on the ISS, but Williams herself has dismissed such rumors regarding her weight loss.
Starliner's Crewed Flight Test forms part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, a contract worth $4.3 billion with the space agency, intended to transport crew and cargo to and from the ISS. SpaceX, NASA's other commercial partner, has thus far launched nine crews to the space station, leading up to its Crew-10 launch. NASA had initially planned for Starliner to commence its first operational mission by early next year, but the space agency decided to halt Boeing's program until a clearer path to certification is established.
The delayed launch of NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission, initially scheduled for February 2025, opens up possibilities for advancements in future space science and technology. With the extended stay of Williams and Wilmore on the ISS, they will contribute valuable data and insights to ongoing research in microgravity conditions.
Once the Starliner spacecraft is certified and ready for its first operational mission, it will significantly contribute to NASA's goal of establishing a sustainable human presence in space, potentially paving the way for future manned missions to explore other celestial bodies in our solar system.
