Astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore’s return: Ex-US Army space commander shares 3 dangerous scenarios | Technology News
It has been over two months since astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore are stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Boeing’s Starliner mission was meant for eight days, and the astronauts were to return to Earth by June 14. However, owing to a fault in the spacecraft, their return has been delayed indefinitely.
The spacecraft was launched on June 5, and following a glitch in its thrusters, which is critical to propel the spacecraft, the duo has been stuck. Weeks later, it was reported that Nasa might consider SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which will only return in February 2025, further delaying their space stay.
Even as Nasa considers alternative solutions to bring back the stranded astronauts safely to Earth, there have been speculations surrounding the return of the astronauts. From unsuitable spacesuits to deteriorating health on the ISS, the Internet is abuzz with reports suggesting more chaos for Williams and Wilmore.
At present, Nasa is deciding whether it should stick to the faulty Starliner or opt for the SpaceX Dragon, a rival to Boeing. Returning on the Boeing Starliner can spell doom for Williams and Wilmore. In a Daily Mail report, Rudy Ridolfi, who was a Space System Commander in the US military, outlined three dangerous scenarios if Nasa chooses to use the Starliner for the return.
Scenario 1: Too steep reentry angle
Based on the report, the scenario would mean failure of the thrusters, leaving the spacecraft with 96 hours of oxygen and power. If the Starliner’s service module places the capsule at too steep a reentry angle, the increased friction could cause the heat shield to fail. This would essentially lead to the capsule burning up in the atmosphere, vapourising the astronauts onboard.
One needs to understand that the main issue with Boeing’s Starliner is with its service module, which essentially is the control center for the entire ship. The service module has the systems that control the thrusters, water, oxygen for astronauts, and power. It is important that the service module is at a certain angle to reenter into the Earth.
Scenario 2: Too shallow reentry angle
According to Ridolfi, in case the reentry angle is too shallow, the capsule could bounce off Earth’s atmosphere and be hurled back into space. This would mean that the astronauts would remain stranded somewhere in the orbit, prompting Nasa to scramble to locate them and retrieve the capsule.
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Scenario 3: Thruster failure on return
As we know, several thrusters have already failed, there could be a risk of more failing during the return. In case this happens, the astronauts could be left floating in space with limited oxygen and power. They would have about 96 hours to revive the thrusters and safely return to Earth.
In the report, Ridolfi suggested that Nasa should strongly consider launching a rescue mission with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule. He firmly believes that this could be a safer alternative than the faulty Starliner. He also advised Nasa to thoroughly evaluate risks and consider alternative options that prioritises the safety of the astronauts onboard.
More about Boeing Starliner
The Starliner from Boeing reportedly costs USD 1.5 billion and is a reusable spacecraft that can carry five to seven crew members along with cargo. The spacecraft is designed to land on solid ground with the help of parachutes and airbags that cushion the landing. This is in contrast to SpaceX’s Dragon and Russia’s Soyuz, which do not land on solid surfaces, but in the ocean. The delay in return has been mainly caused by issues with its reaction control system, especially helium leaks. Helium is critical to pressuring the propellant that feeds the thrusters.
The Starliner is five metres tall and has a diameter of 4.56 meters, and weighs around 9,78,000 kg when fully fueled. The spacecraft has two main parts: a service module that offers power and propulsion, and a reusable crew module meant for the astronauts. It has a heat shield for re-entry protection and a Nasa docking system for access to stations.
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On its launch, the Starliner was propelled using an Atlas V rocket in nine stages, which included booster separation and orbital insertion. During its reentry, the service module is expected to separate from the crew module. Following this, Starliner uses parachutes and airbags to safely land on the ground. The Starliners design allows it to be reused for future missions, given its systems are intact on reentry and landing on Earth.
