STUCK IN SPACE: SUNITA WILLIAMS STRANDED; NASA Reveals Technical

27/JUNE/2024

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) after glitches were found in the Boeing spaceship they travelled in. Earlier set to return on June 26, it’s not known now when the astronauts will attempt their journey back to the earth.

Mrs Williams and her crewmate Butch Wilmore reached there on June 5 and were set to start their return journey on June 26. NASA, the space agency of US, confirmed on June 22 it had extended Mrs Williams and Mr Wilmore’s stay on the space station.

The Starliner had five helium leaks and five of its 28 thrusters were having issues, NDTV had reported two days ago. Experts say at least 14 thrusters are needed for a safe return.

 Astronauts Wilmore and Williams will stay aboard the ISS until at least July 2 as officials investigate the helium leaks affecting the Starliner, which remains docked at the station. Michael Lembeck, an aerospace engineering professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a former Boeing spaceflight consultant, told NY Post that he believes that the Starliner will still likely be the astronauts’ return vehicle. “Right now, I’d say the need for SpaceX to step up is very low,” Lembeck said. “We would have to see a big problem come up in the next couple of days to warrant that reaction.”

NASA’s decision to delay the astronauts’ return.The capsule carrying the astronauts will make it back to Earth, but the service module, which houses the engines, fuel, and helium tanks, will not.