SPACE
Why can’t the astronauts at Boeing’s Starliner come back home?
Weeks of delays getting the crew out are now weeks of delays getting the crew back to Earth as their craft encounters problems.
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, carrying NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this month. However, their return journey to Earth has been delayed again due to technical issues with the spacecraft.
One of the primary concerns is a leak detected in the Starliner’s propulsion system, which is responsible for maneuvering the spacecraft during its return. The leak involves the helium used to pressurize the propellant tanks, potentially compromising the thrusters’ performance.
Additionally, there have been problems with some of the Starliner’s thrusters, which are essential for precise orbital adjustments and attitude control during the descent phase.
Resolving these issues is crucial to ensure a safe and controlled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. Faulty thrusters could lead to difficulties in maintaining the correct trajectory and orientation, posing a significant risk to the astronauts’ safety.
No human has ever died in Space, as can be imagined by the public. Three cosmonauts were killed above the Kármán line in 1971, however.
What is the Kármán line?
The Kármán line is a conventional definition of the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space. It is set at an altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles or 330,000 feet) above mean sea level. It is named after Theodore von Kármán, a Hungarian-American engineer and physicist.
The last astronauts to be killed were those of the shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003.
When will the astronauts return to Earth?
NASA and Boeing have decided to delay the astronauts’ return, scheduled for 21 June, to 26 June, allowing more time to investigate and address these technical challenges.
The journey is expected to take around six hours, around a quarter of the outward flight.