📷 Image Credits: Mint
NASA has shared an update on Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s spacecraft mission which faces potential extension. The Boeing Starliner’s space mission may be prolonged by 45 days, as indicated by the manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Steve Stich. The aircraft carrying the astronauts was initially intended for a week-long duration but has been extended to two months due to helium leaks from the service module. NASA is considering extending the mission further from 45 days to 90 days to address technical issues. Ground tests in New Mexico will be conducted to better understand the Starliner’s thruster malfunctions. Despite the setbacks, Williams and Wilmore are safe on the International Space Station, engaging in daily tasks and experiments. The astronauts may return to Earth after July 2 pending safety assessments and further evaluations. The prolonged mission’s implications for Boeing’s role in human spaceflight and the challenges of managing space debris are significant. The future of the Starliner mission and its contributions to NASA’s Commercial Crew Program remain under scrutiny.