NASA's astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Saunita Williams, have been stranded in space since June and may have to stay there until 2025 due to a malfunction in Boeing's spacecraft.
Barry “Butch” Wilmore, 60, and Sunita Williams, 58, are trapped at the International Space Station following multiple malfunctions in their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, as reported by the Associated Press.
The Starliner's launch on June 5, the first with a crew aboard, experienced a leak in its propulsion-related plumbing. Despite this, engineers assessed it as “stable and isolated” and continued with the mission, according to the Associated Press.
However, the following day, as Wilmore and Williams were about to dock with the space station, four additional leaks were detected, and five thrusters failed. They managed to dock safely, but have been in space since June 6 on a mission originally intended to last only eight days, as per the outlet.
Currently, NASA must decide whether to repair the Starliner for a return trip to Earth or wait for a SpaceX Dragon to rescue them, which could mean they stay at the space station until 2025. SpaceX is set to launch its Dragon craft next month for a mission that will end in February, allowing it to return to Earth.
The article is not finished. Click on the next page to continue.
The article is not finished. Click on the next page to continue.
Next page
