space travel - Starliner: No return date yet for astronauts
Two months after two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore, took off for a week-long mission aboard the crisis-stricken spacecraft "Starliner" from the International Space Station ISS, there is still no firm return date. Tests need to be conducted first to address issues with the engines and helium leaks, said Steve Stich, NASA manager, at a press conference. Most of these tests will be conducted on the ground with identical engines. "We will come home when we are ready," Stich added.
It's possible that Williams and Wilmore might stay on the ISS the entire August, Stich further stated. The plan is still to bring them back to Earth with the "Starliner," but there are also backup plans. "The crew understands all of this, they're taking in all the information and seem to be in good spirits," said Mark Nappi from Boeing, the aerospace company that developed and built the "Starliner" for NASA.
Inaccurate Alternative to Musk-Spacecraft
The "Starliner" is a partially reusable spacecraft consisting of a roughly three-meter-tall crew capsule and a service module. It differs from Elon Musk's SpaceX "Crew Dragon" in that it lands on the ground instead of in water.
The "Starliner" had taken off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for its first crewed test flight in early June, following years of delays due to issues with the spacecraft and rocket. The test flight was repeatedly postponed due to various technical problems with the spacecraft and rocket - and at an altitude of around 400 kilometers above Earth, the crisis-stricken spacecraft could only dock with the ISS in its second attempt due to engine problems.
The "Starliner" had completed its first successful uncrewed flight to the ISS in May 2022 and spent four days there. In the future, it is intended to transport astronauts to the ISS as an alternative to the "Crew Dragon" spacecraft.
- The United States of America relies on NASA and its partnerships, such as the one with Boeing, to develop innovative spacecraft like the "Starliner" for future spaceflights.
- Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore, NASA astronauts, were initially scheduled to return to Earth aboard the "Starliner," but due to engine issues and helium leaks, their return date remains uncertain.
- Despite challenges, the "Starliner" shares similarities with the "Crew Dragon" spacecraft developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX, including transporting astronauts to the International Space Station as an alternative option.
- The International Space Station has served as a home base for astronauts like Suni Williams, offering a unique perspective on Earth and conducting essential scientific research in space.
- The International Space Station, a symbol of international cooperation in space exploration, hosts various spacecraft for missions, including the United States-developed "Crew Dragon" and the upcoming "Starliner" flights, fostering a spirit of shared knowledge and progress in science.
