NASA Faces New Challenge: Astronaut Rescue

Two American heroes are caught in space. Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore, who were on a routine trip, have no idea what lies ahead of them. Their vehicle called the Starliner has left them high and dry on the International Space Station (ISS). Every second feels like an hour for these astronauts as they go through physical and mental challenges. Are they going to come back home safely or is this mission just a one-way ticket?

This blog post delves into the reasons behind the delay, the measures taken to ensure the astronauts' safety, the health concerns, and past tragedies that occurred at NASA that arise during prolonged space missions.

Source: USA Today

Reasons for the Delay

Helium leaks are the major reason for the delayed return of Williams and Wilmore in the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. They have raised questions about the integrity of the propulsion system that is necessary during re-entry to Earth. To make matters worse, engineers have reported problems with the thrusters aboard Starliner adding to the already delayed return plans.

The propulsion system is currently under rigorous examination by NASA and Boeing engineers want to be sure that astronauts can be safely transported by this spaceship without risking their lives.

Extended Mission

Even though Starliner can stay for as long as 45 days connected to the ISS, NASA made a thoughtful decision. Rather than hastening back and putting the crew in danger, the space agency decided to extend its mission period. This enables full investigation into the technical faults, placing emphasis on the safety of Williams and Wilmore as well as the preservation of the current state of the space shuttle.

Astronauts' Current Status

Though their mission was extended unexpectedly, Sunita Williams and Wilmore are not stuck in space. NASA has assured us, the public that the astronauts are safe, well-supplied, and doing their normal tasks at ISS. Their daily activities involve light exercises, personal time, and even some tasks with the docked Starliner indicating the spacecraft is still operational when connected to the station.

Source: NASA

Steps Taken by NASA for Safety

Data-Driven Safety Measures: The space agency stresses the need for a data-driven approach, which includes the information collected from spacecraft guiding them on how best to get their astronauts back home. Though attempts are being made to fix technical problems, NASA has alternative measures. 

Emergency Preparedness: The Starliner can deal with emergencies as astronauts could return safely in case of severe issues affecting the ISS. Thus Williams and Wilmore will not be abandoned and rise again even when an unpredictable incident occurs.

Bone Density Concerns in Space: Possibly the loss of bone density owing to long-term contact with microgravity is among the top factors affecting astronauts’ health as they are in space for an extended period of time. According to recent findings, Sunita Williams might be facing this problem while living on the ISS for quite some time now. Although NASA has not announced any urgent health hazards, it keeps track of everything happening there. 

Exercise Equipment: The Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) is one of the machines used by astronauts in weight-bearing exercises. Applying mechanical stress on the bones, helps preserve lean body mass and maintain normal levels of bone density.

Nutritional Support for Bone Health: Proper nutrition is crucial in sustaining bone health in space. Diets rich in necessary nutrients are provided by NASA for astronauts particularly: Calcium and Vitamin D  are essential to the health of bones and mineralization.

High-Protein Diet: A high-protein diet helps maintain the muscles and general wellness that is particularly crucial during lengthened missions in space.

Continuous Health Monitoring: NASA is hosting assessments of astronauts regardless of the day to know about their medical problems.

NASA Delaying the Crew-9 Launch

The Crew-9 mission that NASA was intending to launch in collaboration with SpaceX has been postponed until September 24, 2024, from its original schedule of August 18, 2024. The decision has been made on account of persistent concerns regarding Boeing’s Starliner vehicle, currently at the International Space Station (ISS).

NASA Deaths

The most tragic event ever happened at NASA was when the Challenger space shuttle exploded on January 28th, 1986. Everybody regarded this breakout incident as the worst catastrophe in America’s space flight program. It was a national and global shock when the seven astronauts lost their lives just 73 seconds after liftoff from Florida's Kennedy Space Center.

According to reports, however, among those on board was teacher Christa McAuliffe who was supposed to be the first teacher in space.

Following substantial research, experts came to know that a failed O-ring seal on one of the solid rocket boosters was responsible for causing the disaster. Exceptional coldness during this launch affected negatively on O ring’s integrity allowing hot gases to leak out finally leading to ruining the whole shuttle.

Astronaut Kalpana Chawla’s Tragedy

Indian astronaut Kalpana Chawla occurred during the Columbia space shuttle disaster on February 1, 2003. The space shuttle STS-107 crashed immediately after entering back into the earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven crew members including Chawla.

Source: https://sd2.org/who-is-kalpana-chawla-the-first-indian-born-woman-in-space/

It was a 16-day period mission and saw the crew perform nearly 80 experiments spanning different fields such as Earth and space sciences.

The disaster was caused when a piece of foam insulation broke off from the external tank of the shuttle during launch. The foam struck Columbia’s left wing, damaging its thermal protection system. During re-entry, the compromised wing couldn’t withstand the intense heat, leading to the shuttle’s crash.

The tragedy shocked the world, especially as it was broadcast live, allowing millions to witness the event. Chawla’s loss, who happened to be the first Indian woman in outer space, touched hearts, inspired many and reflected on possible dangers involved in going beyond planet Earth’s atmosphere.

RELATED READING: Starliner’s Delay

Conclusion

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have found themselves unexpectedly living on borrowed time. The mission they embarked upon aboard the Starliner spaceship took a dangerous turn. Mechanical problems have caused them to be stuck at the ISS. As each day goes by, there is more and more pressure for some solution to be found. Will they ever make it back home? Do let us know in the comments below. 

Do you have burning thoughts or opinions? Feel free to reach out to us at larra@globalindiannetwork.com.