NASA weighs options for astronauts' return as Starliner faces issues

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore find themselves stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) well beyond their planned eight-day mission.

It’s the stuff of science fiction: two astronauts stranded in space, uncertain of how they’ll make their return, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

Sunita "Suni" Williams and Commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) in June as the inaugural crew for Boeing’s new Starliner. However, their mission faced complications when the spacecraft experienced helium leaks and thruster malfunctions before successfully docking, casting doubt on its safety for the return journey.

Despite these issues, Boeing assures that the astronauts are not stranded and insists there is "no increased risk" associated with their return aboard the Starliner. Nonetheless, NASA is considering an alternative plan to bring them back via a SpaceX flight.

They were originally scheduled for an eight-day stay, but the mission has now extended beyond two months, with a potential stay until February. This raises important questions about their supplies, mental well-being, and daily life aboard the ISS.

The International Space Station (ISS) spans 356 feet (109 meters) end-to-end, just shy of the length of an American football field, including the end zones. Its interior space, according to NASA, is comparable to a six-bedroom house and includes six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym, and a 360-degree view bay window.

However, the reality of living in space is not as luxurious as it might seem. The ISS houses not only Sunita "Suni" Williams and Commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore but also seven other astronauts from various missions—four Americans and three Russians.

With the extended stay, ensuring adequate food, water, and oxygen is crucial. The ISS has systems to recycle water and air, and supplies are regularly delivered via resupply missions. Nevertheless, managing these resources over an extended period poses additional challenges.

Yes, the ISS is well-equipped to support its crew for extended periods. Reserve supplies and advanced systems ensure that astronauts remain well-fed and healthy despite their prolonged stay.

The space station maintains a robust life-support system, including its own oxygen-generating capabilities. Approximately 50 per cent of the carbon dioxide exhaled by the astronauts is converted back into oxygen. For water, the ISS utilizes a sophisticated recycling system that converts urine into drinking water and captures moisture from the air, including sweat and breath, further ensuring a sustainable supply.

Food on the ISS is a blend of practicality and culinary care. Meals are prepared at NASA's Space Food Systems Laboratory in Houston, where chefs focus on creating both nutritious and appetizing options. Most of the food is dehydrated and requires water to be rehydrated before consumption, while others are ready-made and only need heating. The menu includes a variety of items such as barbecued beef brisket, eggs, vegetables, bread, savory snacks, and sweet treats. Astronauts can also request personal favorites to be sent up with resupply missions.

Overall, the ISS is equipped to handle the demands of extended missions, ensuring the astronauts have the necessary resources to stay healthy and comfortable in space.

In a recent video on NASA's YouTube channel, astronaut Sunita Williams shared her favorite treat from space: Nutter Butter spread, a jar of which her family sent up for her.

The ISS receives regular shipments from Earth to replenish its supplies. The latest cargo arrived on August 6, having been launched from Kazakhstan on May 30. This resupply mission brought approximately three tonnes of food, fuel, and other essentials for Williams, Commander Barry Wilmore, and their seven fellow crew members.

The crew can request specific items for these supply missions through Mission Control. For Williams and Wilmore, this meant receiving their personal clothing, which they had to leave behind in June to make space for additional equipment. The August 6 shipment included their much-awaited personal garments, and more supplies are scheduled for future deliveries.

Once the supply ships are unloaded, they are repurposed to carry the crew's waste back to Earth. This efficient system ensures that the ISS remains clean and sustainable, even during extended missions.

Sleeping on the International Space Station (ISS) is unique. Without gravity, astronauts don’t experience the sensation of lying down. Instead, they can sleep on the floor, wall, or ceiling, as all surfaces feel the same. The ISS features sleeping stations, roughly the size of phone booths, equipped with a sleeping bag and pillow, allowing crew members to rest in any orientation.

Beyond their work and research duties, astronauts enjoy downtime with a stunning view of Earth from the observatory deck. They also make use of the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) in the Tranquillity node. This equipment mimics gym weights using vacuum cylinders to help maintain muscle and bone health, which is crucial given the muscle and bone loss experienced during extended space missions.

Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, seasoned astronauts and retired navy captains, are currently on a mission to test Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Despite the extended stay, they remain positive and engaged. At a July news conference, they expressed confidence in the ongoing Starliner tests and reassured the public about their safety and well-being.

“We have a real good feeling in my heart that the spacecraft will bring us home, no problem,” Williams shared. Meanwhile, Wilmore highlighted the mantra of "Failure is not an option," underscoring the determination to resolve any issues with the spacecraft.

Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have reassured the public that they trust the tests conducted on the Starliner spacecraft are essential for ensuring a safe return. Despite the uncertainty of their extended stay, Williams and Wilmore maintain a positive outlook. "We trust that the tests that we're doing are the ones we need to do to get the right answers, to give us the data that we need to come back," Williams said. Wilmore’s wife, Deanna, mentioned that he remains "content" and untroubled by the situation, attributing his calm to his faith and the support of his family.

As of now, all but one of the Starliner’s five failed thrusters have been reactivated in orbit. Ground teams are working to resolve the remaining issues, including helium leaks in the spacecraft’s propulsion system, which are critical for maneuvering. Boeing has assured that the capsule can still safely bring the astronauts back, but it may require software modifications if the return must occur without a crew.

NASA’s Ken Bowersox has indicated that returning on the Starliner remains a viable option. However, there is also the possibility of using a SpaceX flight, scheduled to depart in September. This would require reallocating seats, as two astronauts originally scheduled for this flight would need to stay behind to accommodate Williams and Wilmore.

Even if their mission extends further, it will not surpass the record for the longest time spent in space. Russian astronaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record with 437 days in the mid-1990s. Last year, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, along with Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, spent 371 days in space, setting a record for the longest American space mission. Rubio’s mission, much like the current situation, was extended due to technical difficulties and was initially intended to last six months.