2 Astronauts Stranded in Space Following Failed 8-Day Mission
A NASA mission has encountered difficulties.
Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore, 60, and Sunita Williams, 58, find themselves stranded at the International Space Station following several malfunctions on their spacecraft, Boeing’s Starliner, as reported by the Associated Press.
On June 5, during the Starliner’s maiden crewed launch, a leak in its propulsion system was discovered. Despite being deemed “stable and isolated” by engineers, the mission proceeded as planned, according to the Associated Press.
However, on the following day, as Wilmore and Williams approached the space station, four additional leaks appeared, and five thrusters crucial for acceleration and station keeping malfunctioned, as per AP. Despite these challenges, the crew successfully docked at the station. Originally scheduled for an 8-day mission, they have now been in space since June 6.
Currently, NASA is weighing the options of either preparing the Starliner for the return journey to Earth or having Wilmore and Williams wait for a SpaceX Dragon craft to retrieve them. Should they choose the latter, the astronauts may have to remain at the space station until 2025, as SpaceX is set to launch its Dragon craft for another mission next month, returning only in February, as reported by the Associated Press.