On June 13, 2024, Indian-origin American astronaut Sunita Williams was to return to Earth. But it has been more than 12 days today, she is stuck on the International Space Station. American astronaut Barry Butch Wilmore was also supposed to return with her, he is also stuck there. When will they return to Earth? American space agency NASA has no answer to this. First let us know what the problem was? Then we will tell how they can come back?
After reaching the space station, Sunita danced… see the video below
Sunita and Barry went to the space station on 5 June 2024 in Boeing’s Starliner capsule. The problem is in this capsule itself. It has made this journey for the first time. This capsule has not one or two but many problems. The biggest problem is the leakage of helium gas at five places in the capsule i.e. Starliner. Helium gives pressure to the propulsion system of the spacecraft. Apart from this, thruster failure has occurred five times.
Due to the failure of both of them, the reaction control system of the spacecraft has been damaged. This means that Sunita or Barry will not be able to control the spacecraft while coming to earth. If this happens before entering the atmosphere, they will be lost in space. If this happens after entering the atmosphere, they will fall down in an uncontrolled manner.
The problem was detected in the first stage… but
All these problems were discovered by NASA and Boeing in the first phase of the journey. Then NASA and Boeing gave their engineers a chance to fix these problems. They are also busy fixing it. But it has been more than three weeks since Sunita and Barry reached the space station. There seems to be no way to return.
Even before this there was a problem in Starliner
The Starline spacecraft has been built by Boeing under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. So that astronauts can reach the lower orbit of the Earth. The first unmanned flight of Starliner took place in the year 2019. Even then there was a problem with the software. Due to this, this spacecraft reached the wrong orbit. There was a problem in the fuel valve in the second flight. This was the third time when helium leaked in this spacecraft. There was a problem in the thrusters i.e. the propulsion system. That is, NASA deliberately put Sunita and Barry’s lives at risk for some unknown kind of testing.
Helium leak means the vehicle will not gain speed
Before the mission began, both NASA and Boeing were aware of these problems. Despite this, the mission was given the green signal. Due to this leakage, the launch was postponed earlier. Earlier this mission was scheduled to launch on May 7. Starliner program manager Mark Nappi says that the helium system is not performing the way it was designed.
Starliner’s fuel capacity is 45 days. The mission started on June 5. That means 20 days have passed. Now only 25 days are left. If the helium leak and the reaction control system malfunction affects the fuel system, then it can end soon. That means other options will have to be found to bring both of them back.
What is NASA’s argument?
NASA claims that Sunita and Barry are not stranded on the space station. Both of them are capable enough to undock the capsule from the space station and return to Earth whenever they want. They have been stopped there so that the propulsion system data of Starliner can be studied. So that they can return safely. NASA is following the standard mission management process.
What options does America have?
1. NASA should send its old commercial partner SpaceX’s Dragon-2 capsule into space on a new rocket. This capsule can seat four passengers. That means two engineers should take it to the space station. They should stay there and fix the Starliner. Then the astronauts can come back to Earth in both the spacecraft. Or Sunita, Barry and the two engineers who went from Earth can return in Dragon-2 itself.
2. To complete this mission, America should ask Russia for help to bring Sunita and Barry back to Earth. If Russia agrees, then it can immediately send its Soyuz spacecraft to the space station and bring down Sunita, Barry and another passenger. A Soyuz capsule is always stationed at the space station as an escape craft. If there is an emergency, the astronauts can return to Earth with it.
3. America should put aside all its grievances and ask China for help. China should send its Shenzhou spacecraft to the International Space Station. From there, it should bring these two back to Earth.
4. The European Space Agency and England are not in a position to provide any help right now. Even if they do, they will need a month to bring Sunita and Barry back. Because the condition of European countries is a bit bad right now due to the war between Ukraine and Russia. Their focus is more on that side.
Also read: Mission Shakti-2: Can India again test anti-satellite missile… know why and how?
What will happen to the Starliner capsule?
If the problems with the Starliner capsule are not fixed and both astronauts return using any of these options, the capsule will be undocked from the space station and left in space so that it can return to Earth after a few years. Or an attempt will be made to fix it by sending engineers from Earth.
59 year old Sunita is on her third space journey
59-year-old Sunita Williams has previously visited the space station in 2006 and 2012. She has spent a total of 322 days in space. She spent 195 days in space in 2006 and 127 days in space in 2012. In 2012, she even did a spacewalk three times.
