Why are NASA astronauts stuck in space? Boeing’s critical failure adds to the mystery

The homecoming of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been living and working on the International Space Station for more than seven weeks, is still awaited. Their spacecraft, a Boeing Starliner, has been plagued by problems for a long time. Both before and after the launch, helium leaks that were discovered on board the spacecraft have been causing issues. The spacecraft’s propulsion system is being impacted by these leaks, which is delaying their return, as per the reports of Yahoo news.

Backup plan concerning SpaceX

NASA is looking into other options while it works to resolve the issues with Starliner. Restoring Wilmore and Williams to Earth via SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft is one possible strategy. NASA had originally intended to use Starliner for their return, but the current problems have prompted conversations regarding this contingency plan. According to reports, SpaceX and NASA are thinking about launching Crew-9, which can carry the astronauts who are stuck in orbit. Currently scheduled for next month, the Crew-9 mission is anticipated to disclose additional details later today during a briefing by NASA.
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NASA’s current status

The manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew program, Steve Stich, stated at a recent news conference that although there had not been any official talks about utilizing a different Crew Dragon for a rescue mission, the possibility is still there. He emphasized the benefit of having two distinct spacecraft systems available, which gives NASA a bit of flexibility when making decisions. NASA has not yet set a return date for Wilmore and Williams, but engineers are testing extra thrusters in an effort to better understand the helium leak problems.

Starliner’s mission has been extended from 45 to 90 days, with a revised deadline of September 3. The delays have prompted questions about the spacecraft’s dependability even with this extension.

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FAQs

What is causing the delay in the return of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams?
The delay is due to helium leaks in their Boeing Starliner spacecraft’s propulsion system, which were discovered both before and after the launch.What alternative plans does NASA have for bringing the astronauts back?
NASA is considering using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft as an alternative to return the astronauts while they work on resolving the Starliner issues.