Elon Musk's SpaceX is poised to assist Sunita Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore, who are stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) following helium leaks detected on their Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
The spacecraft was originally scheduled to return on June 26, with June 14 being the earliest possible return date before that. Williams and Wilmore were expected to return home after spending roughly a week in orbit.
Williams made history as the first female astronaut to pilot a crewed spacecraft on its maiden voyage.
Why the Delay?
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams embarked on the Starliner on June 5, expecting a nine-day mission aboard the International Space Station. However, helium leaks have caused uncertainty regarding their return date, prompting NASA to seek solutions. The re-entry has been further delayed from its original schedule, which had them slated to return on July 2.
What is the Role of Elon Musk’s SpaceX?
SpaceX may ultimately be called upon to return astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to Earth using its Crew Dragon spacecraft. This move would be a significant setback for Boeing, which has already faced cost overruns of approximately $1.5 billion after securing a $4.5 billion NASA contract. The issues with Starliner have raised questions about its viability as an ISS mission option.
Despite the severity of the situation, NASA and Boeing officials have downplayed the need for SpaceX's involvement, asserting that no immediate action is required to address the Starliner's problems. Nonetheless, SpaceX's Crew Dragon, which successfully transported four people to the ISS in March, is ready for the mission and can accommodate up to four people, plus additional passengers in an emergency.
Since 2020, SpaceX has been the only private enterprise authorized to transport crew members and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). This scenario highlights the competitiveness and difficulties faced by the commercial spaceflight industry.
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What Happens Next?
While authorities investigate the helium leaks affecting the Starliner, astronauts Wilmore and Williams will remain aboard the International Space Station until at least July 2. Michael Lembeck, a former Boeing spaceflight consultant and aerospace engineering professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, expressed confidence that the Starliner will still be the astronauts' return spacecraft.
"At this point, the likelihood of needing SpaceX to intervene is very low," Lembeck told the New York Post. "We would have to see a big problem come up in the next couple of days to warrant that reaction."
To ensure a thorough investigation of the issues, NASA has decided to delay the astronauts' return and analyze the Starliner while it remains docked at the International Space Station. Although the spacecraft carrying the astronauts will eventually return to Earth, the service module, which houses the fuel, helium tanks, and engines, will stay in orbit.
NASA officials have assured that, should any critical problems arise on the ISS, Wilmore and Williams will have a safe return option, as there is still sufficient helium gas available for their journey home.
Potential Setback for Boeing's Space Mission
Experts speculate that NASA might be growing impatient, as a SpaceX rescue mission would spotlight critical technical flaws in the Starliner.
The last time NASA required external assistance was in 2022 when American astronaut Frank Rubio became stranded due to a leak in a Russian Soyuz capsule. Although NASA considered using SpaceX for the rescue, Rubio ultimately returned in an empty Soyuz capsule provided by Russia, extending his mission to a record-breaking 371 days.
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