Stranded Astronauts
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One informed source said it was greater than a 50-50 chance that the crew would come back on (Spacex's) Dragon. Another source said it was significantly more likely than not they would. To be clear, NASA has not made a final decision. This probably will not happen until at least next week. It is likely that Jim Free, NASA's associate administrator, will make the call.
Asked if it was now more likely than not that Starliner's crew would return on Dragon, NASA spokesperson Josh Finch told Ars on Thursday evening, " NASA is evaluating all options for the return of agency astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from the International Space Station as safely as possible. No decisions have been made and the agency will continue to provide updates on its planning."
My understanding is that there are two docking locations on the ISSS. One of them has a Dragon already docked. It is a "lifeboat" in case of a catastrophic event on the ISSS. The other one is occupied by Starliner.
That's awkward.
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spacex to the rescue:
Two NASA astronauts who flew to the International Space Station in June aboard Boeing's faulty Starliner capsule will need to return to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle early next year, NASA said on Saturday, deeming issues with Starliner's propulsion system too risky to carry its first crew home.
Starliner will undock from the ISS without a crew and attempt to return to Earth as it would have with astronauts aboard.
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Sit right back and you’ll hear a tale… A tale of a fateful trip…
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@George-K said in Stranded Astronauts:
The bartender is not pleased with having just been sprayed with Modelo…
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Coming home empty this PM.
https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-crew-flight-test-earth-return-webcast
Boeing's Starliner capsule will depart the International Space Station without astronauts today (Sept. 6), and you can watch the action live.
A livestream of Starliner's homecoming will begin at 5:45 p.m. EDT (2145 GMT) today, featuring the capsule's undocking at 6:04 p.m. EDT (2204 GMT). You can watch it here at Space.com, via NASA Television.
Landing, at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico, is scheduled about six hours later, on Saturday (Sept. 7) at 12:03 a.m. EDT (0403 GMT or 10:03 p.m. local time Sept. 6). NASA will livestream that event as well, starting at 10:50 p.m. EDT (0250 GMT).
I remember reading a story that this is pretty risky, considering the unreliability of the helium-powered thrusters. After all, that's why it's not coming down with a crew aboard. Concern is that this unreliability may cause damage to the ISS.
Fingers crossed.
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@Jolly said in Stranded Astronauts:
That was before DEI at NASA.
Both shuttle disasters were before DEI, too, so if anything bringing minorities in has made things better!
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@Jolly said in Stranded Astronauts:
That was before DEI at NASA.
Both shuttle disasters were before DEI, too, so if anything bringing minorities in has made things better!
@Doctor-Phibes said in Stranded Astronauts:
Both shuttle disasters were before DEI,
NASA went full speed ahead with DEI before the Shuttle ever flew.
Although it didn't become the most important thing at NASA until a few years later.
