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Sunita Williams To Return From Space In February 2025: NASA

  • By Thetripurapost Web Desk, California
  • Aug 24, 2024
  • 540

When the Boeing Starliner SpaceShip carrying astronauts Sunita Williams and Bailey Wilmore left Earth for space in early June 2024, it was supposed to be a short eight-day mission. 

But 80 days have passed since the launch and the two astronauts have not yet returned. Launched on June 5, this test flight reached the International Space Station on June 6. Sunita Williams and Wilmore have been stranded in the ISS since then. 

Their return date is still not decided. After the glitch in the Boeing Starliner, NASA is considering other options to bring back the astronauts.

The purpose of the Boeing Starliner mission was to demonstrate the spacecraft's ability to safely carry people to and from the ISS. As part of NASA's Commercial Crew program, aerospace company Boeing considers this trip important for its goal of providing regular transportation services to the space agency. 

However, the problem in the test flight has dashed the company's hopes.

By the time Starliner reached space, several small helium leaks were reported in the spaceship's service module, making it unsafe for travel. Helium is necessary to maintain the spacecraft's structural integrity and mobility. 

Along with this, five of its thrusters in the spacecraft's propulsion system malfunctioned. These thrusters are necessary for space travel and docking. Several problems were found in the valve responsible for controlling the flow of oxidizer in the spaceship.

NASA and Boeing engineers are trying to fix the spacecraft's problem. They are checking data from the spacecraft's propulsion system as well as testing the spacecraft's thrusters. Apart from this, the NASA team is also considering other options to bring astronauts. 

This includes returning with Elon Musk's company SpaceX's Crew 9 Dragon. Crew 9 Dragon is scheduled to be launched into space in October and its return is in February 2025. If this happens, Sunita Williams will have to stay in space for 8 months