Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams on Wednesday expressed confidence about her return flight from space. Williams’ message from space comes days after the US space agency indicated a possible extension of Boeing Starliner’s space mission from 45 to 90 days.
“I have a good feeling in my heart that this spacecraft will get us home, no problem,” NASA astronaut Sunita “Suni” Williams said during a live press conference from the International Space Station (ISS). This was the test crew’s first press conference since docking with the ISS a month ago.
Emphasising that ‘failure is not an option’, NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore said the sole purpose of the stay at the ISS is to test the spacecraft. Wilmore and Williams were launched on a Starliner from Florida on June 5 and docked at the ISS the next day.
“We are very confident,” Wilmore told reporters. “You’ve heard the mantra that failure is not an option.”
“And that’s why we’re staying here, because we’re going to test it. That’s what we do,” Wilmers was quoted as saying by Reuters. During his conference, he acknowledged that ongoing investigations involving thruster tests on Earth by the US space agency and Boeing are crucial to their return.
Problems Related to Boeing Starliner
Boeing Starliner’s first space mission has been plagued by a number of technical problems, including a helium leak. The launch was delayed more than four times in May and June.
According to Reuters, five of Starliner’s 28 maneuvering thrusters stopped working properly after the spacecraft reached the station. Helium gas is used to pressurize the thrusters. The leak was caused by a malfunction in the propellant valve, which did not close properly.
The success of the test mission will help Boeing get more spacecraft for regular astronaut flights. So far, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is the only US company capable of using its spacecraft in human flights. So far, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has dominated the nascent human spaceflight market amid delays in the development of Starliner.
At the same time, an investigation at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama aims to determine why a type of seal in the Starliner’s propulsion system caused a helium leak.
According to NASA officials, Wilmore and Williams’ return to Earth on the Starliner depends on the results of the thruster tests.
NASA commercial crew chief Steve Stich told reporters Wednesday that “we’re taking our time with testing” and that the results of the New Mexico thruster test “are not what we expected.”
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Published: July 11, 2024, 08:35 AM IST
