Astronauts Could Face Extended Stay in Space, NASA Says

NASA officials have revealed that astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) could face an extended stay of up to eight months if their return vehicle, Boeing’s Starliner, remains unavailable. The astronauts may have to wait for an alternative flight on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon if Starliner is not ready.

Joe Acaba, NASA’s chief astronaut, emphasized that astronauts like Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are trained for such scenarios. “They embark on missions fully aware of the various outcomes,” Acaba said, acknowledging the inherent risks of human spaceflight.

Russ DeLoach, NASA’s chief of the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, explained that if NASA decides to change the mission, the astronauts would still return to Earth safely, albeit on a different spacecraft. He added that such a change wouldn’t necessarily be classified as a major mishap.

The decision on when to bring the astronauts back was initially expected in mid-August, but NASA has now delayed it to the last week of the month. Officials, however, noted that there is “no sharp cut-off” for making the call.

The possibility of using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for the return poses additional challenges. The spacesuits the astronauts wore for the journey to the ISS on Starliner are not suitable for the Crew Dragon, meaning they would return “unsuited,” which could expose them to extra risks during re-entry.

Moreover, an extended stay on the ISS could increase the astronauts’ exposure to space radiation, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. NASA officials are working closely with Boeing to address the technical issues with Starliner and continue to evaluate the risks involved.

Despite the challenges, Steve Bowersox, NASA’s deputy associate administrator, expressed confidence in Boeing’s commitment to resolving the issues. “We’ve had very honest discussions…and the Boeing team is 100% behind their vehicle,” he stated.

As NASA navigates these uncertainties, the safety and well-being of the astronauts remain the top priority, with officials balancing the risks of various contingency plans.