Sunita Williams News : Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams traveled aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5. Both astronauts were supposed to come back from space in approximately one week, but issues with technical malfunctions and helium leakage during the test flight were so severe that NASA had to attach the Starliner to the space station. Both of them have been marooned in outer space ever since.
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Detail Overview on Sunita Williams News :
It has been close to two months since Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore got stuck in space and have not been able to come back to Earth. Both of them traveled to outer space on June 5 using Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
Meanwhile, NASA is now making a new plan for their return, which may be approved today
How long has she been on this mission?
Sunita Williams embarked on this mission in May 2023 and has been on it ever since. At first, she was scheduled to come back in June 2024, but because of technical problems with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, her departure has been delayed.
NASA is expected to make the ultimate decision by tomorrow.
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft or SpaceX’s Dragon capsule will bring Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth. NASA will be able to make a final decision on this by tomorrow. Administrator Bill Nelson and other high-ranking officials are scheduled to have a meeting on Saturday to discuss this matter.
NASA to give update on Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore’s return today: How to watch it live https://t.co/kbUItq0Xak
— Brijesh Kumar (@Brijesh28bsr) August 24, 2024
what was the main concern ?
SpaceX has the ability to return the astronauts, but they’d need to remain there until February. If NASA chooses SpaceX to bring back the astronauts, the Starliner will come back to Earth without any passengers in September.
Engineers successfully repaired four out of the five malfunctioning thrusters remotely, although there are lingering doubts about the spacecraft’s ability to safely return to Earth.
The main concerns causing the delay in Sunita Williams’ return are related to problems with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
- Occurrences of helium leaks, essential for the spacecraft’s propulsion system, occurred multiple times.
- Thruster Malfunctions: Certain thrusters, crucial for navigating the spacecraft, encountered malfunctions.
- Issues with software also had to be fixed to guarantee the spacecraft operated safely.
Sunita Williams and her fellow crew member have had to troubleshoot and repair extensively, resulting in the mission lasting longer than anticipated due to these technical challenges.
What experiments is Sunita Williams conducting in space?
Currently, Sunita Williams is engaged in multiple intriguing experiments in outer space.
- She is experimenting with efficient ways to water plants in a microgravity setting. This study is essential for upcoming extended space missions where cultivating food in space may be required.
- Free-Flying Robots: She is conducting experiments with free-flying robots to assess their abilities and possible uses in space missions.
- Research on Microgravity’s Impact on the Human Body: She and astronaut Butch Wilmore are investigating the effects of extended microgravity exposure on human physiology.
These experiments are part of continuous endeavors to enhance life support systems and guarantee the welfare of astronauts during long missions.
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