• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Astronauts on 8-day mission could be stuck in space until 2025 NASA says

Home> Science> Space

Published 11:12 9 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Astronauts on 8-day mission could be stuck in space until 2025 NASA says

NASA is considering turning to SpaceX for help

Rebekah Jordan

Rebekah Jordan

Two astronauts who were supposed to be on an eight-day mission may not be able to return until next year.

NASA's Butch Wilmore and Sunita 'Suni' Williams launched on 5 June aboard the Boeing Starliner.

They were the first crew to fly the spacecraft but ran into serious issues with Starliner's propulsion system, delaying their return to Earth.

Five of Starliner's manoeuvring thrusters reportedly stalled, with five helium leaks and a faulty propellant valve.

Advert

They have remained on the International Space Station for over 60 days, and the problems with the spacecraft have caused questions as to whether it can take the astronauts back down to Earth safely.

MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/Contributor/ Getty images
MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/Contributor/ Getty images

With this in mind, the administration suggested at a press conference that it may need to use Boeing’s competitor, Elon Musk's SpaceX, to return astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth.

If Starliner can't make it back, NASA is considering using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon as a backup plan.

Advert

But this wouldn't be ready until February 2025, meaning the astronauts would have to remain at the ISS until then.

During a NASA press conference update shared on YouTube, Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager explained in a press conference: 'We have been working with SpaceX to ensure they are ready to respond with Crew-9 as a contingency.'

He mentioned the team probably not likely to make a decision until the middle of August.

'We have not formally committed to this path, but we wanted to ensure we had all that flexibility in place,' he added.

Advert

NASA/Handout via Getty images
NASA/Handout via Getty images

Initially, Space X's mission was set for 18 August but this has since been pushed back to 24 September.

'We could take either path,' said Ken Bowersox, the associate administrator for NASA’s space operations mission directorate.

'And reasonable people could pick either path depending on where their view is on, on our position and the uncertainty bound that we have for the data that we’ve got on the thruster system, on the propulsion system.'

Advert

Last month, Williams was optimistic about Starliner's ability to return the astronauts to Earth: 'I have a real good feeling in my heart that the spacecraft will bring us home, no problem.'

Meanwhile, engineers in New Mexico have been working on fixing the thrusters to find the source of the problem.

Seemingly, out of the five failed thrusts that failed, four have been reactivated with more tests underway to figure out the cause.

Featured Image Credit: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/Contributor / NASA/Handout via Getty images
Nasa
SpaceX
Space
Earth
Youtube
Science

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
18 hours ago
19 hours ago
20 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Psychologist reveals simple everyday act that can has power to completely change your relationship

    Experts believe this mundane chore could be the key to keeping your relationship happy

    Science
  • 18 hours ago

    Scientist made shock admission ahead of NASA mission to asteroid 'worth $10,000,000,000,000,000,000'

    It's not what most people want to hear

    Science
  • 19 hours ago

    Ozempic users share shocking ‘Ozempic sex’ side effect that not many people know about

    It's not just your wasitline that could be shrinking

    Science
  • 20 hours ago

    Solar panels illegal in 49 states could transform energy for the USA

    A YouTuber showed how the solar panels can be plugged into a home outlet

    Science
  • Suni Williams says she will likely never return to space after 8-day mission turned into 9 months
  • NASA astronauts officially touch down on Earth for first time in 9 months after 8-day mission went wrong
  • Elon Musk makes shock claim about why NASA astronauts have been stuck in space for over 8 months
  • Specialist reveals what 'stranded' NASA astronauts were likely eating to survive in space after 8-day trip lasted 9 months