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GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

22nd August 2024 (11 Topics)
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NASA's Starliner Delay

Context

NASA’s recent mission to test the Boeing Starliner crew capsule has hit unexpected snags, leading to a significant delay in the return of astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams from the International Space Station (ISS). Originally intended to be a straightforward eight-day mission, the test has now extended to an eight-month stay due to technical issues with the Starliner.

About the Mission

  • Initial Objective: Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams were launched to test-fly the Boeing Starliner capsule, including its manual controls, and to dock with the ISS. They were expected to return to Earth within a week of their arrival.
  • Current Situation: The mission has been delayed due to problems with the Starliner’s helium leak and malfunctioning thrusters. As a result, Wilmore and Williams may not return until 2025, significantly extending their stay.
  • Current ISS Crew: As of now, nine astronauts are aboard the ISS, including Wilmore and Williams. The other members are Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Alexander Grebenkin.

What Went Wrong?

  • Technical Issues: The primary issue causing the delay is technical problems with the Starliner capsule. Specifically, the helium leak and malfunctioning thrusters have prevented the spacecraft from being used for the return journey.
  • Previous Delays: There have been historical instances of astronauts staying longer than planned due to technical or logistical issues, but the current delay is notable for its length and impact on the crew’s schedule.
  • Backup Plan
    • If the Starliner remains unfit for use, NASA has a backup plan involving the Crew 9 Dragon team. Scheduled for launch in September 2024, Crew 9 Dragon will potentially replace the current crew if necessary.
    • If needed, NASA might ground two crews and send only a two-member team for the return mission, allowing Wilmore and Williams to remain with the new Expedition 72 crew.

Fact Box: About Boeing Starliner

  • Starliner is a spacecraft that transports astronauts in space, after being launched there by a rocket.
  • It consists of a crew capsule and a service module.
    • Service Module: Provides power and propulsion.
    • Crew Module: Designed for astronauts. Includes a heat shield for protection during re-entry and a NASA docking system for connecting with space stations.
  • The crew capsule houses the astronauts; like others of its kind, it will be able to survive re-entry and return to the ground.
  • The service module consists of the equipment and systems the astronauts need to survive in space, including air and temperature control, water supply, sanitation, etc., plus the engines and fuel required to manoeuvre the spacecraft.
  • The service module won’t be reusable.
  • Starliner is more than 4 m wide and can house up to seven astronauts. It can be fit atop an Atlas V rocket, operated by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
  • In June 2024, an Atlas V rocket launched Boeing’s Starliner on its first crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). 
  • Unlike SpaceX’s Dragon and Russia’s Soyuz, which land in the ocean, the Starliner is designed to land on solid ground. It uses parachutes and airbags to cushion the landing.
  • During re-entry, the service module separates from the crew module. The Starliner then uses parachutes and airbags to land safely on solid ground.
  • The Starliner is designed to be reusable for future missions, provided its systems remain intact after re-entry and landing.

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