The POT made the decision a few days ago to return to Boeing Starliner unmanned to Earth, while astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams will return to the Land in the spaceship Crew-9 Dragonthanks to the company SpaceX of the tech mogul.
“Space flights are riskyeven in its safest and most routine forms,” the statement said. NASA Administrator, Bill Nelsonat a press conference and stressed that the main factor they take into consideration is the security of astronauts.
The mission of the SpaceX Crew-9 will be released after Tuesday September 24th but the astronauts stranded will reach Earth only in February of the 2025. The rescue is scheduled with four members of the crew on their return: the two stranded astronauts and the two members of the departing crew.
Final details for the launch
SpaceX and the POT They have already begun final preparations and finalizing details for the launch of the mission. Crew-9 Dragonwhich will bring back the two stranded astronauts. However, there are several considerations that must be taken into account before launching.
A key part is the reconfiguration of the seating of the ship and the update of the cargo manifest, which will include personal items and space suits specific to the Dragon. The renovated facilities of the Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
A factor that causes worry It is the prolonged and unexpected stay of astronauts, but the NASA assured that Williams and Wilmore have provisions enough for the remaining months and that in the meantime, they will take advantage of participating in scientific research tasks and routine maintenance of the station until its return to Earth.
starliner ship.jpg
Courtesy of Shutterstock.
What will the return of the Starliner ship be like?
The nave will return in September unmanned and is expected to take off from the space station and perform a reentry and landing self-employedcontrolled and without problems. NASA assured that the Starliner must return to Earth before of the launch of the Crew-9 mission to ensure the availability of a docking port.
From the beginning, the ship was designed to operate in a autonomous and has even previously successfully carried out two unmanned flights. “Making decisions like this is never easy, but I want to congratulate “We would like to thank our teams at NASA and Boeing for their thorough analysis, transparent discussions and focus on safety during the crewed flight test,” he said. Ken BowesoxNASA associate administrator.
What were the faults that left the astronauts stranded?
The mission was intended to test the new capsule Boeing on his first manned space flight to the International Space Station, but found issues practically after its launch on June 6.
Just one day after takeoff and after several years of postponements, NASA and Boeing detected helium leaks on the Starliner and problems with 5 of the 28 thrusters of reaction of the ship as it approaches the International Space Station.
From that moment on, the teams of engineering They did a great and intense job: they did evidence in flight and on the ground, independent reviews with experts in propulsion and developed several contingency plans for the return.
“The decision to keep Butch and Sui aboard the International Space Station and bringing home Boeing’s uncrewed Starliner is the result of our commitment to safety: our core value and our North Star,” he said. Bill Nelson.
Source: Ambito
