Astronauts stuck on International Space Station after more problems with Boeing’s stranded Starliner

For the past few weeks, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been stranded aboard the International Space Station after the first crewed flight of Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft hit a snag. Concerns raised by Boeing and NASA about thruster problems and multiple helium leaks (helium is used in the Starliner’s engine system) prevented the spacecraft from making its scheduled return trip. He said now The astronauts will probably have to stay put until the next crew swap, scheduled for August — possibly on another ship.

Boeing and NASA are trying to put a positive spin on the extension by saying they are testing the systems needed for longer Starliner missions. But the project has already suffered several delays, having originally been scheduled to launch First time with crew in 2017This, coupled with recent problems, raises questions about the entire Starliner program.

Starliner was noted to have small helium leak Before it is released, helium is an inert gas (like neon or xenon), which means it does not react with other materials.

This makes it ideal for use with rocket fuel and high temperatures, although it is an expensive process to produce. It is compressed and used Fuel payment to the engines at the correct rate. A helium leak could mean that not enough fuel is getting to the thruster.

The leak that was detected while Starliner was on the launch pad was determined to be minor and the spacecraft was sent into orbit regardless. However, this turned into a bigger problem when Additional helium leaks identified After launch, which meant that many of the spacecraft’s small thrusters could not be used.

Four of the five thrusters were repaired while Starliner was docked to the International Space Station, but that raises concerns that the others could fail during the return trip to Earth. Upon Starliner’s return, re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere requires a very specific “angle of attack” to ensure that There is no significant friction to heat up the ship..

Failure to adjust the vehicle’s orientation or orbital parameters to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere could, in a worst-case scenario, result in massive heat buildup and destruction of the spacecraft carrying two astronauts.

There are additional thrusters and other redundant systems designed for the spacecraft, so this scenario is highly unlikely. However, there have been helium leaks. While Boeing and NASA have deemed it safe to return aboard Starliner, it’s entirely reasonable for astronauts to feel some fear and anxiety — especially since these issues haven’t occurred on uncrewed test flights.

The next problem is that the Starliner spacecraft jettisons its service module when it re-enters the atmosphere, returning to the surface on Earth rather than at sea (as the Russian Soyuz spacecraft and SpaceX Dragon capsules did). This means that the part of the spacecraft that carries all the vital information will burn up, making it extremely difficult to determine what actually happened.

Space investigations

currently Earth tests NASA is conducting research and investigations on the International Space Station to gather as much information as possible before returning.

The astronauts have arrived at the International Space Station and are safe there. While it is likely that the Starliner will return to Earth, if a major malfunction is detected while docking with the ISS, there are other return vehicles that could be used to ferry the crew home.

The safety of astronauts will undoubtedly be a top priority for both the agency and industry. But this isn’t the first problem with Starliner. The vehicle has suffered significant delays since it was designed as part of the nation’s space program. Commercial Crew Program in 2010.

The contract called for Starliner to be ready by 2017 with a two-year delay before the first successful unmanned launch in 2022 (there was a failed attempt in 2019). The main crewed launch was then delayed by a month.

The delays suggest that Boeing is falling behind its main commercial competitor, SpaceX, which won a contract at the same time as Boeing in 2010 to build vehicles that could take crew to the ISS. SpaceX successfully launched a crewed mission with its Crew Dragon capsule in 2020. As an indication of success, Crew Dragon is currently completing its fifth crewed mission to the ISS, and has also completed 30 shipping missions.

Boeing has been a major player in NASA space missions for decades, playing a key role in the Space Shuttle program, for example. That relationship continues with the company’s role in the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will send astronauts on their way to the moon.

The company was one of the largest and most impressive contractors in the aerospace industry. However, the problems that Starliner faced did not come for long. It was widely published. Incidents with Boeing aircraft, so the company can do without any further problems with its manned spacecraft to add to its woes.