Houston, we've got a problem! 🚀
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were all set for a quick trip to the International Space Station (ISS) and back. But their journey has turned into an extended stay in space, and they don't have a return date yet!
The dynamic duo was supposed to return to Earth in mid-June after a week-long mission. But issues with their ride home—the brand-new Boeing Starliner capsule—have left them hanging out in orbit a little longer.
So what's the deal? 🤔
Well, the Starliner has been acting up. Five of its thrusters failed as it approached the ISS, and there have been helium leaks too. NASA and Boeing engineers are working overtime to figure out what's going on. They're testing spare thrusters in the New Mexico desert and even planning to fire up the capsule's engines while it's docked at the ISS!
\"We'll come home when we're ready,\" says Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew program manager. Talk about going with the flow! 🌊
Backup Plans? Enter SpaceX!
If the Starliner keeps misbehaving, NASA might call on SpaceX's Dragon capsule to bring the astronauts home. But SpaceX has its own issues right now—Falcon 9 rockets are grounded due to an upper-stage failure during a recent mission.
Space Travel Isn't Always Smooth Sailing 🌌
This mission was supposed to be Boeing's big moment—their first crewed test flight after some hiccups in previous uncrewed tests. But space is hard, and technology doesn't always cooperate!
For now, Butch and Suni are enjoying some extra time aboard the ISS. Maybe they're catching up on their favorite shows or snapping epic space selfies! 📸✨
Stay tuned for updates on when they'll be heading back to Earth. Fingers crossed for a safe and speedy return! 🤞🌍
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
