The stranded Boeing Starliner astronauts planned to hitch a ride home with SpaceX, but their space suits aren’t compatible with Elon Musk’s spacecraft

After being stranded on the International Space Station since June, two astronaut castaways may still be months away from returning to Earth—in part because of incompatible space suits.

The two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, have had to extend what was supposed to be an eight-day trip on the ISS, because of a helium leak and thruster malfunctions on their Boeing-made Starliner spacecraft. NASA and Boeing are testing to see if it’s safe for the astronauts to return on the Boeing Starliner, but are also considering alternatives given the possible risks.

NASA has yet to make a decision, but one of those alternatives includes sending the astronauts home on a Dragon spacecraft, manufactured by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, that is already docked at the station, a representative from the space agency said during a press conference last week, Ars Technica reported.

Yet, that approach comes with complications, as explained by Swapna Krishna, the journalist behind the space-themed YouTube channel Ad Astra. If NASA chose that option, Wilmore and Williams would be the fifth and sixth astronauts on a spacecraft that’s limited to four passengers. And because their Starliner suits aren’t compatible with the Dragon spacecraft, they would have to return to Earth without suits on, which isn’t inherently dangerous, but offers them less protection in case something goes wrong with the capsule.

The differing suit designs and plugs for the Starliner and Dragon spacecraft comes down to a new process for commercial crewed space missions that NASA has implemented. Previously, NASA was extremely involved in the manufacture and testing of spacecraft and space suits.

Yet since the 2010s when NASA developed the commercial crew program, it has given private companies more freedom in how they develop and manufacture equipment for the agency, including space suits, as long as it meets broad safety requirements. For instance, NASA didn’t specify that space suits for each commercial spacecraft need to be cross-compatible with one another. In fact, having two different suit designs for each spacecraft could also be beneficial, according to Krishna.

“If the suits used the same type of plug, and some sort of flaw was found within that plug or some other sort of standardized connector, it would ground both spacecraft,” she said in a Sunday video.

A spokesperson for Boeing referred a request for comment to NASA. NASA and SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment. NASA has said the astronauts are not “stranded” on the ISS.

Another alternative is sending the astronauts home on a different Dragon spacecraft that’s set to reach the ISS in September. This ship could reach the space station with only two of its usual four crew members and could send up extra (Dragon-compatible) space suits, which would allow Wilmore and Williams to return to Earth fully suited in the two unfilled seats.

But if NASA chose this alternative, the Starliner ship that the astronauts originally flew in would have to undock and return to Earth autonomously to make room for the Dragon spacecraft arriving in September, and Boeing has said it might not be able to do that. Because of the way Boeing’s contract with NASA is structured, the company has had to absorb the extra costs associated with the technical failures of its Starliner. The company has already taken about $1.6 billion in charges on its Starliner program.

If the Starliner left the space station without a crew, the astronauts on the ISS would also have to install two extra seats on the remaining Dragon spacecraft until the next Dragon arrives, because the remaining docked ship must provide enough seats to accommodate all of the NASA astronauts in case of an emergency.

The marooned astronauts would need to take the place of the two astronauts pulled from the Dragon mission to accommodate them, which would keep them aboard the ISS until the regular rotation ends in February 2025. That would mean turning what was supposed to be just over a weeklong mission into eight months. Although both astronauts have completed longer missions on the ISS before, those were filled with less uncertainty. Wilmore’s wife told a CBS station in Knoxville that she is preparing for her husband to miss Christmas and the couple’s 30th wedding anniversary.

Give me a break. We got Apollo 13 home by just using duct tape and cardboard.

Oh, I guess we will just leave them to die in outer space … /sarc

21 posted on 08/30/2024 5:05:13 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (LORD, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.)

22 posted on 08/30/2024 5:05:35 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (LORD, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.)

This article is very much overcome by events ... it’s more than a week old.

1) The Starliner crew are going home on the SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft.

2) Proper suits are being sent up for them.

3) The Starliner is scheduled to return, autonomously, in the next few days.

This is so strange to me.

We put a man on the moon, but we can’t send a spacecraft promptly to bring them home. ,seems,odd to me.

not really, there is a constant resupply flights, currently a russan progress, a cygnus are there. plus they have enough supplys for at least 1 yr.

I expect SpaceX will figure something out.

Is the rescue going to be paid for by NASA?

Or will SpaceX foot the bill and count it as public relations or something?

Does anyone else see a comparison to the bazillion separate types of electric and hybrid vehicle batteries, all inherently send costs to replace through the roof?!!@

Nice Red Green solution. I read that one suit was already there and the other was coming. I don’t think this article is the most current.

“Does anyone else see a comparison to the bazillion separate types of electric and hybrid vehicle batteries, all inherently send costs to replace through the roof?!!@”

It is called Capitalism!!!

35 posted on 08/30/2024 5:26:00 PM PDT by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)

something tells me an adapter could be made...

If I was stranded up there on that floating space junk I’d rather trust my life to Musk than Boing.

I think this is all of 'em, sorted:

NASA cuts 2 from next SpaceX flight to make room for astronauts stuck at space station [08/30/2024]
NASA and Boeing Prepare for Uncrewed Starliner Return Mission [08/30/2024]
NASA's Plan B: Why SpaceX Is Completing Boeing's Starliner Mission [08/27/2024]
Boeing employees 'humiliated' that upstart rival SpaceX will rescue astronauts stuck in space: 'It's shameful' [08/26/2024]
Musk's SpaceX testing breakthrough tech in risky spacewalk [08/25/2024]
SpaceX will bring stranded Boeing Starliner crew home in February [08/25/2024]
NASA astronauts at the Space Station who crewed Boeing Starliner are to return home on a SpaceX ship [08/24/2024]
Boeing Starliner astronauts stranded in space for 80 days will not return home until 2025: NASA [08/24/2024]
AYKM? Boeing Official Not Surprised Starliner Is Stuck in Orbit [08/22/2024]
SpaceX sends 22 Starlink satellites into orbit using new first stage booster [08/21/2024]
NASA pushes decision on bringing crew back in Starliner to the end of August [08/18/2024]
NASA to decide stranded Starliner astronauts' route home by end of month [08/15/2024]
Another Boeing Blunder: NASA Worries that Starliner May Damage ISS Docking Port [08/12/2024]
Anyone gonna ask Space Council Chair Kamala Harris about the 2 American astronauts still stranded in space? [08/11/2024]
BREAKING NEWS, Astronauts trapped in space by Boeing's faulty Starliner are given horrifying news about potential return to Earth [08/07/2024]
Astronauts who were supposed to take 8 day ISS trip may be stranded until 2025 due to Boeing spaceship issues [08/07/2024]
SpaceX delays Crew-9 astronaut launch amid uncertainty over Boeing Starliner [08/07/2024]
SpaceX's Crew-9 astronaut launch delayed to Sept. 24 due to Boeing Starliner issues [08/07/2024]
NASA Might Delay Upcoming Crew 9 Mission to Return Stranded Starliner Astronauts to Earth [08/06/2024]
Did NASA Just Admit That Boeing's Starliner Is Doomed? [08/05/2024]
Boeing's Starliner proves better at torching cash than reaching orbit [08/03/2024]
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites; fourth liftoff in week [08/02/2024]
Boeing names new CEO as it posts loss of more than $1.4 billion in second quarter [07/31/2024]
Boeing Wins Space Mission Contracts Owing To Its 'Armies Of Lobbyists,' Says SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Amid Starliner Return Delay [07/31/2024]
NASA: No return date yet for astronauts aboard ISS [07/25/2024]
Astronauts stuck on ISS 'confident' Starliner will bring them home [07/11/2024]
SpaceX launches U.S. spy satellites from Vandenberg [07/03/2024]
SpaceX completes S[ta]rlink launch, brings Direct to Cell satellite total to 103 [07/03/2024]
Technical failures leave Starliner crew 'not stranded' on ISS indefinitely [07/01/2024]
Starliner undergoing thruster testing before indefinite return flight [06/30/2024]
NASA insists Boeing Starliner crew 'not stranded' on ISS [06/29/2024]
SpaceX May Have to Rescue NASA Astronauts Stranded in the International Space Station Due to Boeing Starliner's Multiple Helium Leaks: REPORT [06/26/2024]
How SpaceX could end up rescuing stranded astronauts if Boeing's Starliner can't be fixed [06/26/2024]
Astronauts stranded in space due to multiple issues with Boeing's Starliner — and the window for a return flight is closing [06/24/2024]
NASA pushes Starliner return to July [06/24/2024]
NASA, Boeing delay Starliner astronaut landing again, to study helium leaks and thruster issues [06/23/2024]
Astronauts stuck in space at least another week as Boeing and NASA troubleshoot Starliner spacecraft issues [06/20/2024]
NASA delays return of Starliner astronauts from space station [06/15/2024]
Boeing Starliner Stuck on Space Station as More Leaks Discovered. [06/13/2024]
Boeing's Starliner Now Has 5 Leaks While Parked Outside the ISS [06/13/2024]
Boeing Starliner launches to International Space Station from Florida [06/05/2024]
ULA Launches NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test [06/05/2024]
Boeing Starliner's crewed launch abruptly halted, again [06/02/2024]
Boeing Can't Afford to Fail Tomorrow. The company's years-long effort to fly astronauts for NASA has been plagued with setbacks. Now it faces a historic test. [05/31/2024]
Boeing won't fix leaky Starliner before flying first crew to ISS [05/25/2024]
Boeing Starliner crewed test flight delayed indefinitely [05/24/2024]
Boeing Starliner historic crewed launch delayed again indefinitely [05/22/2024]
Boeing Starliner launch delayed to Tuesday due to helium leak [05/16/2024]
Boeing Starliner launch delayed to Tuesday due to helium leak [05/16/2024]
Boeing Starliner crewed mission postponed shortly before launch [05/07/2024]
NASA Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test LIVE Countdown form Launchpad | LIVE [05/06/2024]
Boeing Starliner rolls to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station ahead of May launch [04/17/2024]
Boeing Starliner docks to International Space Station for first time [05/21/2022]
Boeing Seeks Redemption as It Readies Starliner for Yet Another Launch Attempt [05/13/2022]
SpaceX Brings 4 Astronauts Back to Earth After 6-Month Stint on International Space Station [05/06/2022]
NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts are ready to come home [04/16/2022]
Nearly two months after discovering a problem with its Starliner spacecraft, Boeing is still searching for answers [09/24/2021]
Boeing scrubbed Starliner spacecraft's launch after 13 valves failed to open [08/10/2021]
Boeing Will Expand Starliner Tests But Denies Cutting Corners After Glitches [02/29/2020]
Boeing & NASA admit multiple anomalies on Starliner mission [02/13/2020]
NASA Reveals This Boeing Starliner Glitch That Could've Destroyed The Space Capsule [02/07/2020]
After The Boeing Starliner Snafu, NASA Must Rethink How It Does Business [01/04/2020]
Boeing Starliner is the first US-made crew capsule to land on the ground [12/22/2019]
Boeing's Starliner Won't Reach Space Station, NASA Chief Says [12/20/2019]
Boeing's Starliner Launch to the International Space Station [12/20/2019]
Live coverage: Overnight countdown underway for Friday's Starliner launch [12/20/2019]
Boeing rolls out Starliner passenger spacecraft to launch site ahead of December flight [11/21/2019]
Boeing delays Starliner test flights (again, and again, and again...) [04/03/2019]
Boeing's Starliner Launch Abort Engine Suffers Problem During Testing [07/23/2018]

Yes we do. Musk has them employed now.

DEI forced them out of NASA.

US Government: Hey, Elon, can you pick our astronauts up from the space station?

Elon: Are you still going to spy and harass me?

US Government: Of course!

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.