The Boeing Starliner which was scheduled to bring them back faced multiple issues on it’s way to the ISS. From malfunctioning thrusters to leaks in the helium system, the fact that the astronauts made it to the station was nothing short of a miracle. These concerns were enough for NASA to deem the spacecraft unsafe and declare that it was unfit for a return journey with Sunita and Butch aboard. The Starliner was docked at the ISS since and only recently made a crewless journey back to Earth on September 6, landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. NASA’s decision to leave Sunita and Butch at the ISS was influenced by past tragedies, particularly the Columbia incident of which Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams was a part of. For the unversed, the Columbia tragedy was a horrific incident which led to the loss of all seven crew members aboard the spacecraft as it attempted re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. The space shuttle was compromised after the edge of the left wing was damaged by debris from the external tank during launch.
Sunita and Barry have been stuck in space since June 5, 2024 Source: NASA
Thus, NASA is taking all precautions to avoid a repeat of such an incident and has drawn out a contingency plan. To address the issue, the space agency has reconfigured the SpaceX shuttle which is currently supporting Crew-8, to serve as the emergency vehicle for Sunita and Butch. The spacecraft will remain on standby until the SpaceX Crew-9 mission arrives, which is set to launch no later than September this year. NASA stated, “The International Space Station crew and ground teams have completed the configuration of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft supporting Crew-8 to now serve as the emergency return spacecraft for Butch and Suni, if needed, until NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission arrives following its launch no earlier than Tuesday, Sept. 24”.
Williams and Wilmore are not alone aboard the ISS. They are members of the Expedition 71 crew, which includes NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Tracy C. Dyson, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, and Alexander Grebenkin. The crew has been working on a variety of duties, including station research and maintenance, experimenting with novel techniques to create fiber optic cables, and growing plants aboard the orbiting complex.
NASA’s decision to use the SpaceX vehicle and immediately come up with a contingency plan to “save” Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore is a demonstration of their commitment to astronaut safety and care. SpaceX has time and time again proven that their spacecrafts are among the most reliable of commercial vehicles available to take humans to space. Meanwhile, a shadow has been cast over Boeing’s legacy and reliability; A bulwark in the world of aerospace vehicles, this incident has dealt a major blow to their reputation. NASA continues to collaborate with Boeing to answer the burning question that everyone is seeking answers to: What went wrong?
With Sunita and Butch still in space, NASA continues to monitor their health and safety as the two astronauts are continuing to deal with not only the psychological effects of their extended stay in space but also the physical; health concerns such as loss of bone density, space anemia, eyesight issues, muscle atrophy may plague the two for months to come. As the situation develops, the space agency must do all it can to bring Williams and Wilmore back home safely. We can only wait and hope for the best.
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