Vikrant Shekhawat : Aug 25, 2024, 06:00 AM
Sunita Williams: The hopes raised by the test flight of Boeing Starliner in June 2024 are now in trouble. Under this mission, astronauts Sunita Williams and Bailey Wilmore were launched on June 5. Although it was an eight-day mission, both the astronauts have not yet returned despite 80 days having passed. On June 6, the Starliner docked at the International Space Station (ISS), but they have been stranded there since then.The main objective of this mission was to demonstrate the ability of Starliner to safely transport people to the ISS and bring them back. Under NASA's Commercial Crew program, Boeing considers this journey important for regular transportation services. But the glitch in the test flight has dashed the company's hopes.A helium leak problem was found in the Starliner's service module, which could affect the structural integrity of the spacecraft. Additionally, five thrusters in the spacecraft's propulsion system have malfunctioned, which are necessary for space travel and docking. Problems were also found in the valve controlling the flow of oxidizer.Engineers from NASA and Boeing are busy fixing these problems. They are checking the data of the spacecraft's propulsion system and testing the thrusters. Also, NASA is considering other options, including SpaceX's Crew 9 Dragon, which is scheduled to launch in October. If this plan is successful, Sunita Williams may have to stay in space for eight months.