Sunita Williams stuck in space, atleast till next year, know more
NASA announced on Saturday that it will bring Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft back to Earth without astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams on board. Instead, the two astronauts will return to Earth in February next year aboard a Crew Dragon capsule, owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX.
The uncrewed return of Starliner will allow NASA and Boeing to thoroughly analyze the spacecraft’s performance during its journey back.
Wilmore and Williams, who have been on the International Space Station (ISS) since June as part of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, will continue their scientific work on the station, including research, maintenance, and system testing, until their scheduled return in February 2025. "Spaceflight is risky, even in its safest and most routine form," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
"The decision to keep Butch and Suni on the ISS and bring Starliner back uncrewed reflects our unwavering commitment to safety: our core value and guiding principle," Nelson added. He also expressed appreciation for the efforts of NASA and Boeing teams in ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of the spacecraft's systems.
Starliner is expected to leave the ISS and execute a controlled autonomous re-entry in early September. This decision follows the identification of helium leaks and issues with the spacecraft’s reaction control thrusters during its June 6 approach to the ISS. In response, engineering teams have conducted extensive data reviews, flight and ground testing, and independent safety evaluations.
Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, praised the teams for their transparent discussions and focus on safety. "We've gained valuable insights into the spacecraft during its journey to the station and its docked operations," he said, underscoring the significance of the uncrewed return for future missions.
Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, emphasized the need for greater certainty in crewed missions. "This flight test is providing crucial information on Starliner’s performance in space," he said, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between NASA and Boeing to improve the spacecraft's systems for future missions.
Earlier, it was reported that NASA was expected to make a final decision on whether Wilmore and Williams would return to Earth on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft or SpaceX’s Dragon capsule. The agency confirmed that after an extensive review, the astronauts will return on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in the spring.
Related Posts
More News:
- 1. सड़क हादसे ने छीनी आंखो की रोशनी, एम्स ने सर्जरी कर लौटाई
- 2. डीएड डिप्लोमा अभ्यर्थियों का अनिश्चितकालीन धरना प्रदर्शन जारी
- 3. MLA Pradeep Patel.... लेकिन आप मुझे गुंडों से मरवाना चाहते हैं, एएसपी के सामने दंडवत हुए भाजपा विधायक, देखने वाले भी हुए हैरान, देखें VIDEO
- 4. "..not going there to discuss India-Pakistan relations..", Jaishankar clarifies his visit to Islamabad
Leave a Comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Popular post
Latest post
You may also like
