If you haven’t heard, two NASA astronauts are literally stuck in space because their spacecraft malfunctioned and couldn’t take them home.
For the past several weeks, these astronauts have been patiently waiting for NASA to announce how they intend to get them back to Earth. Finally, NASA has announced its retrieval plan, but it means the astronauts will be there much longer than they originally thought.
The Original Flight Plan for the Stranded NASA Astronauts
On June 5, 2024, the Boeing Starliner Spacecraft launched with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on board.
The plan was to spend about eight days at the International Space Station (ISS) before returning to Earth on the same spacecraft. However, as soon as they left Earth, the astronauts noticed problems with the Starliner’s thrusters.
Safely Landing at the ISS
Fortunately, the Starliner safely made it to the ISS, but the astronauts and everyone at NASA, here on Earth, were very worried about the spacecraft’s ability to get them home safely.
For more than a month, Wilmore and Williams sat tight on the ISS, just waiting for NASA to decide what to do. But now, they finally have their answer, though it may not be what they wanted to hear.
Two Options to Get the NASA Astronauts Home
From the very beginning, NASA saw two options: they could either risk sending the astronauts home on the malfunctioning Boeing Starliner or send another spacecraft to retrieve them.
Both plans certainly had downsides. The Starliner was not working as it was supposed to, and the second craft, the SpaceX Crew Dragon, wouldn’t be ready to leave for several weeks. It would also cost millions more to send the SpaceX craft instead of using the Starliner.
The Astronauts Are Safe But Not Comfortable
It’s important to understand that Wilmore and Williams are safe and sound at the ISS. They are not in any danger. However, the two are not necessarily very comfortable. According to NASA, the ISS comfortably accommodates three to six people, but seven astronauts live there full-time now.
Williams and Wilmore are working every day on important experiments, but since they only planned to spend eight days in space, there’s no doubt they’re ready to come home.
NASA’s Big Announcement
After almost three months of deliberations, NASA has announced that they will not be sending Wilmore and Williams back on the Boeing Starliner.
Steve Stich, program manager for NASA’s commercial crew program, explained, “The bottom line relative to bringing Starliner back is … there was just too much uncertainty in the prediction of the thrusters…it was just too much risk with the crew.”
SpaceX to the Rescue
Instead, NASA will launch SpaceX’s Crew Dragon to retrieve the stranded astronauts. The plan is finalized, but it will still take months to complete.
Though they haven’t announced the exact date, NASA says the Crew Dragon will head out in September. However, the spacecraft will have to spend five months at the ISS before bringing Wilmore and Williams home in February 2025.
What Does NASA’s Decision Mean for Boeing?
NASA’s decision to send the Starliner back to Earth uncrewed and ask SpaceX to rescue its astronauts will undoubtedly affect the two stranded in space. But it will also influence Boeing, SpaceX, and even the future of space travel.
Boeing has been making headlines for its many mistakes within its commercial aircraft division, and the failed spacecraft makes the situation far worse. And some speculate that the Starliner debacle may lead to a complete division between Boeing and NASA and potentially the end of Boeing altogether.
What Does NASA’s Decision Mean for SpaceX?
Meanwhile, the decision unquestionably will change things for SpaceX, but in a good way. Elon Musk’s space travel company has been dying to become NASA’s first choice for spacecraft for almost two decades.
Of course, it’s too soon to say, but this one trip may catapult SpaceX to become NASA’s leading spacecraft developer, making Musk’s dreams come true.
NASA Has Made Mistakes Before
Of course, this decision will undoubtedly affect NASA as an organization, as well as the astronauts and the companies designing the spacecraft. The hope is that this decision will ensure the safety of the astronauts, but nothing is certain.
NASA is one of the most trusted organizations on the planet. However, they have made some mistakes before, including one that took the lives of seven astronauts.
Seven Astronauts Lost Their Lives Due to That Mistake
On January 28, 1986, the NASA space orbiter, the Challenger, exploded just 73 seconds after it launched, killing all seven astronauts aboard.
Some say that several of NASA’s decisions directly led to this terrible accident. Since the explosion, tests have shown that NASA could have prevented the catastrophic event if they had only addressed a known defect in the thrusters.
Williams and Wilmore Can’t Do Anything But Wait
NASA believes that they are making the right and safest decision this time and that Williams and Wilmore will soon be home safe and sound… just eight months later than they were supposed to be.
And for now, all the astronauts can do is wait at the ISS, throw themselves into their work, and try to enjoy this wild ride.
