NASA to Decide on Rescue Plan for Stranded Astronauts by End of August: Boeing’s Starliner vs. SpaceX
NASA is set to determine how to safely bring home astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) due to a malfunction in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Originally, the astronauts were to spend eight days in space following their June 5 launch on the first crewed flight of the Starliner. However, a critical issue with the thrusters has left them stuck aboard the ISS.
The thrusters, essential for controlling the capsule's position during descent, have presented challenges that NASA's engineers are still analyzing. With time running short, Ken Bowersox, NASA's Associate Administrator of Space Operations Mission Directorate, stated in a recent news conference that the agency must make a decision by the end of August.
NASA is set to determine how to safely bring home astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) due to a malfunction in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Originally, the astronauts were to spend eight days in space following their June 5 launch on the first crewed flight of the Starliner. However, a critical issue with the thrusters has left them stuck aboard the ISS.
The thrusters, essential for controlling the capsule's position during descent, have presented challenges that NASA's engineers are still analyzing. With time running short, Ken Bowersox, NASA's Associate Administrator of Space Operations Mission Directorate, stated in a recent news conference that the agency must make a decision by the end of August.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Today is Thursday, August 15, 2024.
00:04NASA to decide on rescue plan for stranded astronauts by end of August, Boeing Starliner
00:10VS.
00:11SpaceX
00:13NASA is set to determine how to safely bring home astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams,
00:19who have been stranded on the International Space Station, ISS, due to a malfunction in
00:24Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
00:27Originally, the astronauts were to spend eight days in space following their June 5 launch
00:32on the first crewed flight of the Starliner.
00:35However, a critical issue with the thrusters has left them stuck aboard the ISS.
00:41The thrusters, essential for controlling the capsule�s position during descent, have
00:46presented challenges that NASA�s engineers are still analyzing.
00:51With time running short, Ken Bowersox, NASA�s associate administrator of space operations
00:57mission directorate, stated in a recent news conference that the agency must make a decision
01:02by the end of August.
01:04Russ Deloach, NASA�s safety chief, highlighted the complexity of the situation, noting that
01:10the lack of sufficient data prevents a straightforward resolution.
01:14NASA is currently weighing the option of using SpaceX�s spacecraft as an alternative.
01:20If chosen, SpaceX might launch their Crew-9 mission on Sept. 24 with only two astronauts
01:27instead of the usual four.
01:29This critical decision will determine whether NASA opts for a return trip on the ailing
01:33Starliner or shifts to SpaceX�s reliable transport, ensuring the safe return of Wilmore
01:39and Williams.