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NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore are facing potential risks in space due to technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft.
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The spacecraft’s malfunctioning thrusters may cause it to bounce off the Earth’s atmosphere, leaving the astronauts stranded with just 96 hours of oxygen supply.
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Additional risks include faulty alignment, heat shield failure, and incompatibility with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore are facing a prolonged stay in space due to technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft. The spacecraft’s malfunctioning thrusters may cause it to bounce off the Earth’s atmosphere, leaving the astronauts stranded with just 96 hours of oxygen supply. This is just one of the potential risks that the astronauts may face on their journey back to Earth.
Another risk is faulty alignment, which could cause the spacecraft to fail to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere, leaving it stranded in space indefinitely. Additionally, a steep angle of entry could cause the spacecraft’s heat shield to fail, resulting in extreme friction and heat that could burn up the spacecraft and put the astronauts’ lives in danger.
Furthermore, Williams is also facing eyesight issues in space due to long exposure to microgravity, a condition known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). NASA is working on finding solutions to these issues and is considering alternative options, such as bringing the astronauts back in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. However, incompatibility with spacesuits is a major safety concern that needs to be addressed.
