The plan was to stay for more than a week. But NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stuck on the International Space Station for almost two months, so their trip has been extended considerably.
The reason? The spacecraft they came in (and therefore have to return in) has a fair number of problems: heat problems in the thrusters and helium leaks in the service module. It’s the Starliner, Boeing’s newest spacecraft. You know, the airplane manufacturer.
Andre Kuipers was also stuck in space once.
Being stuck in space may sound like a fever dream, but it’s not the first time something like this has happened in the history of space travel.
This has also happened to space expert André Kuipers. For example, he once had to float in space for six weeks longer due to a technical problem with the capsule that would take him back to Earth. André Kuipers tells more about his experience with beaches in space in the latest issue of Kuipers and the universe.
Will astronauts return to Earth?
Like all other astronauts on the International Space Station, the crew will likely return. But will they do so in the Starliner, too? That’s our mission, NASA and Boeing said during a news conference on July 25, 2024. When exactly? That remains a mystery. “The final safety test will be completed this week,” said Mark Nappi, a Boeing board member. Next week, NASA and Boeing will evaluate the matter and a return date may be set.
How are the astronauts doing? Steve Stich, NASA Administrator Commercial Crew Program He notes that they are having a great time on the space station. “The crew is very understanding and in a good mood. They are enjoying their time on the ISS and have been helping the crew with experiments for a long time.”
Curious about more from Kuiper and the universe? For example, he talks about how astronauts will soon have a hotel around the moon, how AI is entering space travel, and that the new Ariane 6 rocket really needs a successor.
Do you have advice for Kuipers and the universe or a question about the universe, space travel or sustainability? Send an email to [email protected]. André Kuipers answers most of the original posts in this section every month.
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