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Not Lost in Space, But…

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams find themselves marooned aboard the International Space Station (ISS), far beyond their scheduled eight-day mission due to critical malfunctions in Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft. Initially set to launch on May 6, 2024, their journey was postponed to June 5 after a leaky valve issue in the Atlas V rocket's upper stage. The mission's intent was straightforward: to test the reusability and operational efficiency of the Starliner. However, the reality has proven far more complex and fraught with challenges.

“We want to go and get back as quickly as possible so they [can] turn our spacecraft around and also take all those lessons learned and incorporate it into the next Starliner,” Williams had optimistically shared with me during their pre-flight preparations.

Unfortunately, the optimism has been tempered by a series of spacecraft malfunctions, including thruster failures and leaks in the gaseous helium system essential for thruster pressurization. What was meant to be a brief sojourn has now extended into a potential eight-month ordeal, with NASA contemplating the return of the Starliner to Earth unmanned. In its stead, a modified mission plan involving a SpaceX Crew Dragon is being considered to retrieve the astronauts in early 2025.

The ISS, typically accommodating six to seven crew members, is currently housing nine, raising concerns about space and resources. Despite these challenges, Williams remains positive: “We are having a great time here on ISS,” she reported during a July 10 press conference. The camaraderie and spirit of the crew appear unshaken, but the strain of an extended stay is not to be underestimated.

The extended mission has necessitated a shift from their original tasks primarily associated with the Starliner’s systems checks to more general maintenance and scientific work aboard the ISS. “Some days you feel like you’re just chasing the red line,” astronaut Nicole Stott, a veteran of the space station, described the hectic schedule in a past conversation.

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Sam Bennett