two National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) The astronaut who piloted the new spacecraft Starliner I had an unexpected long stay in June. space.
While sensationalist headlines have described the test pilots as “trapped” or “stranded,” Boeing, which built the capsule, has assured the public that the crew are not in danger and do not need to be rescued.
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The astronauts don’t seem too upset.
“We’re having a lot of fun up here on the ISS,” one of them said during the pair’s first video conference call from the International Space Station on Wednesday. “It feels good to be floating.”
Boeing is A long struggle We are currently developing the ship, but I would like to give you a brief overview of the current status.
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft docked with the International Space Station on June 6, 2024.
Credit: NASA
What is Starliner?
Starliner is a spacecraft built by Boeing under a $4.2 billion contract with NASA to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station in orbit 250 miles above Earth. First test flight It is scheduled to fly with humans on June 5. The success of this flight is important for the ship to receive certification for routine operations.
After NASA retired the space shuttle in 2011, the agency had to turn to Russia to send crews into space. It cost the U.S. more than $1 million to send crews from Kazakhstan. $86 million For one ride, the US space agency hired both. SpaceX The company is collaborating with Boeing to build spacecraft with the goal of establishing a commercial space taxi industry.
That was 10 years ago. SpaceX Crew Dragon As a NASA taxi from 2020, NASA will send all eggs to Elon MuskBut Boeing’s Starliner is still in the testing phase, and NASA says it still wants a second viable transportation vehicle.
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Sunita “Suni” Williams, left, and Barry “Batch” Wilmore, right, practice in a simulator at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Credit: NASA / Robert Markowitz
Who is the astronaut who pilots the spacecraft?
Commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore61, and Sunita WilliamsThe 58-year-old is the first crew member on Starliner, a spacecraft that may eventually carry four astronauts at a time to the space station.
Both are veteran astronauts. Wilmore, a former Navy fighter pilot and captain, was appointed by NASA to command Starliner after spending six months in space on Expedition 41 in 2014 and on STS-129 aboard the space shuttle Atlantis in 2009. Wilmore is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Williams will be the first woman to pilot the new orbital spacecraft. She is also a retired Navy captain who has completed two spaceflights, Expedition 14/15 in 2006 and Expedition 32/33 in 2012, totaling nearly a year in space. She is married to primary school A street in Massachusetts is named after her.
Boeing Starliner pilot Suni Williams performs a somersault after a televised press conference with Boeing Starliner Commander Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station on July 10, 2024.
Credit: NASA / YouTube screenshot
Why haven’t the astronauts returned yet?
The crew arrived at the space station on June 6, but just before Starliner was due to dock, the propulsion system experienced problems, likely due to a helium leak and loss of thrust, which resulted in the failure of five of the spacecraft’s 28 thrusters, which are essential for controlling and maneuvering the spacecraft in space.
The team has since restarted four of the five failed thrusters, and Boeing is continuing tests to try to diagnose the problem, saying the Starliner has enough helium, used to pressurize the thrusters, to return.
Meanwhile, the team is conducting additional tests on an additional module on Earth to better understand the thruster issue. Ground Testing Starliner will attempt to replicate the ignition needed for return, and will jettison the module, leaving it to burn up in the atmosphere so engineers won’t be able to inspect it after the mission is over.
Boeing’s Starliner will approach the International Space Station for docking on June 6, 2024.
Credit: NASA
When will the crew return to Earth?
Wilmore and Williams were originally scheduled to stay aboard the space station for eight days, but problems kept them in orbit. Add 1 month.
So far, mission managers haven’t announced a return date as they work to resolve the service module’s issues. A Boeing executive told reporters on July 10 that the astronauts could return as soon as the end of this month. Ideally, the team would like the Starliner crew to depart before another group of astronauts arrives in mid-August on a SpaceX flight.
Despite sensationalist headlines claiming the crew were “trapped” or “stranded,” Boeing has firmly denied these claims. The company maintains that while the spacecraft can return the astronauts safely at any time, including through an emergency evacuation, it is essential to get as much data as possible now before they depart and the service module is destroyed.
During an earlier test, an empty Boeing Starliner capsule landed in the New Mexico desert.
Credit: NASA / Bill Ingalls
Where will Starliner land?
Don’t expect this spacecraft to sink into the ocean like SpaceX’s Crew Dragon: Boeing plans to return Starliner to Earth. Army’s White Sands Missile Range New Mexico. A system of parachutes and airbags cushions the capsule’s desert landing.
