NASA is facing a serious challenge with two astronauts stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) after a failed mission by Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Originally, these astronauts were supposed to return to Earth within a week, but it’s now been more than two months, and their return is still uncertain. The situation is becoming increasingly tense, with the astronauts dealing with less-than-ideal living conditions, adding to their stress and potential health risks.
The trouble started with Boeing’s Starliner, which had its first-ever flight carrying astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the ISS in early June. This mission was crucial because, if successful, NASA would have certified Boeing for regular flights to the ISS. Unfortunately, the mission was far from smooth. Five of Starliner’s engines failed during docking, and there was a helium leak mid-flight—a problem Boeing knew about but didn’t fix. Now, NASA and Boeing engineers are scrambling to fix these issues, testing the engines and trying to solve the helium leak problem. But there’s a big risk: if Starliner’s engines fail again during the undocking process, it could lead to a disastrous accident.
With Starliner’s reliability in doubt, NASA is considering other options. One option is to use SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which is scheduled to carry new astronauts to the ISS in September as part of the Crew 9 mission. NASA is thinking about sending only two astronauts on the Dragon, leaving two empty seats for Wilmore and Williams on the return trip in February. However, even this plan is uncertain because Dragon has its own technical issues, and there’s no guarantee the launch will happen on time.
There’s also a third, more politically sensitive option: asking Russia for help. Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft is a reliable backup, but getting Russia involved would require a political decision from Washington. This decision is complicated by the upcoming U.S. presidential election, where any negative press about a space disaster could impact the chances of Vice President Kamala Harris, who heads the National Space Council and is now a presidential candidate.
The situation is a reminder of the challenges in space exploration and the ongoing reliance on international cooperation—even in times of political tension. NASA’s next steps will not only determine the fate of the stranded astronauts but could also have significant implications for the future of U.S. space missions.
