NASA sent Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to ISS in the maiden flight of Boeing’s Starliner. The mission was to test the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, before its first manned flight and performance in the real world. The Starliner, which docked at the ISS on June 13, 2024, was initially scheduled to return to Earth after a week-long mission. However, it has been 56 days (still counting), yet the return of the astronauts is still awaited.
The spacecraft had 28 thrusters, out of which 5 shut down abruptly as they approached the ISS. In addition, the engineers discovered 5 small helium leaks in the spacecraft’s service module. Both the malfunctions have to be dealt with before re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, otherwise they could pose a serious threat to the astronauts’ safety.
Both the astronauts await a resolution to the problem, though they have been constantly sending updates on the research they are conducting aboard the ISS and the status of the Starliner to Earth. They too, addressed the media where they could be seen optimistic about their return, thus exemplifying professionalism.
Another concern that has recently come to light is the deteriorating health conditions of both the astronauts stranded in space. Williams and Wilmore face the risk of decreased muscle mass and bone density due to lack of gravitational pull in outer space. Without gravity, muscles weaken rapidly for there’s no resistance, and bones lose minerals, particularly calcium, at a pace faster than that on Earth. This poses an increased risk of fragility in bones, making them susceptible to breaks.
NASA’s efforts to bring the astronauts back to Earth depicts the challenging conditions of space and the importance of a reliable spacecraft for such intricate missions. The world prays for the astronauts and is hopeful for their return.