Spacecraft problems may prevent NASA astronauts from staying on space station until February

Two American astronauts could remain on the International Space Station until February if the spacecraft carrying them cannot be repaired to bring them home safely.

NASA said last week it had not yet determined plans for the return of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been aboard the International Space Station since June 6.

The American astronauts were expected to stay in space for only a week, but technical problems with the Starliner spacecraft built by Boeing have so far prevented their return.

The flight carrying Wilmore and Williams was a test flight for Starliner, which marked the first time the spacecraft had successfully carried astronauts into space.

NASA is looking for a solution

NASA officials held a news conference Wednesday to discuss the current situation with Starliner and astronauts on the International Space Station. They said the agency is still working with Boeing to resolve the spacecraft’s technical difficulties. The investigation has focused on a helium leak and Motivation Problems with Starliner.

But if those issues aren’t resolved in the coming weeks, NASA said it may decide to use SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft to return astronauts to Earth. NASA has been using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon to regularly ferry astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station since 2020.

If NASA decides to use Crew Dragon, it has said it will leave two of the four seats empty during the spacecraft’s planned launch to the International Space Station in late September. Wilmore and Williams will then make the return trip to Earth in Crew Dragon.

NASA officials told reporters they have brought in additional experts to examine the Starliner’s leaks and failed thrusters. Meanwhile, the space agency is looking closely at SpaceX as a backup solution to get astronauts home.

“NASA’s current thinking is that we can choose either path,” said Ken Bowersox, the agency’s chief of mission operations. During a recent meeting, he said, “we heard from a lot of people who expressed concerns, and the decision wasn’t clear.” NASA said a final decision should be made by mid-August.

Boeing representatives were not at the press conference. But the company issued a brief statement Wednesday reiterating its position that Starliner can still be repaired to safely carry astronauts. “We continue to believe in the ability of Starliner and its mission to fly astronauts,” the company said in a statement. RationaleBoeing said.

Boeing said in a statement that if NASA decides to change Starliner’s mission, the company “will take the necessary actions.” formation “Starliner to return without crew.”

Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, said the agency was not seriously considering a separate SpaceX flight to carry Wilmore and Williams.

Problems with push seals

Officials said ground tests by Boeing and NASA showed problems with the Starliner’s thrusters. That suggested engineers may be having a problem with the engines’ seals. But Stitch said it’s not clear what’s causing the seal problems.

The thrusters are crucial to allowing the Starliner to get away from the International Space Station during separation operations. Meanwhile, engineers are trying to find the cause of the helium leak in the spacecraft’s envelope. Payment The first leak occurred before launch, but more leaks appeared during the flight.

Boeing has faced repeated delays in its attempt to complete NASA’s flight testing process before it can get approval to begin official flights to the International Space Station.

I’m Brian Lane.

Brian Lane wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, AFP and NASA.

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Words in this story

Motivation – N. An engine that produces thrust by firing a jet of fluid or a stream of particles.

Rationale – N. A set of reasons for a particular decision or belief.

formation – an act to arrange something or put its parts together in a particular shape or pattern

Payment – N. a force that pushes something forward