Posted on 08/30/2024 4:43:32 PM PDT by george76
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.
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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.
So its SpaceX fault cuz they didnt make their suits compatable with a nonfunctional family of space equipment.
This is hilareous
After all, Ripley went back tto sleep in just her undies. With a cat. At the end of aliens.
You’d think that a hour landing procedure could be accomplished.
Lets see...take your chances on a orbiting piece of space junk for reentry...or hitch a ride in your undies on a proven spacecract in the rumble seat....I know what I’d opt for.
what is the role of the four on SpaceX? Are all needed for just a rescue pickup?
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Changes Ahead of September Launch
Josh Finch Jimi Russell & Courtney Beasley
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-spacex-crew-9-changes-ahead-of-september-launch/
The needed suits will ride up on the 2-person Crew Dragon mission.
“when NASA developed the commercial crew program, it... didn’t specify that space suits for each commercial spacecraft need to be cross-compatible with one another.”
Most of my info about the different gauges I took from things my oldest son who worked for Conrail for several years, but my Dad worked on the NY Central Railroad his whole life. That's where my son got his love for trains. He knows things about trains, both here and Europe that most people don't, because he's studied them and ridden on many of them over the years. Today he's on his way to Berlin for 8 days. One of his friends who lives in Hamburg is a long-time engineer for the Deutsche Bahn.
the connectors for life support are different for each suit and spacecraft
Well I appreciate you sharing that history. Grew up next to the railroad and have always had an interest and connection. :)
Must have been noisy. My Dad came home every day in his work clothes smelling like diesel fuel, but as kids, we did have the benefit as a family to ride for free on the train. I remember those days fondly.
“Must have been noisy.”
Oh yes. And we lived right next to a crossing where they had to honk by law. But incredibly, your mind learns to ignore it.
Fabricating adapters is something that should have been done since it was known they could be different.
Like traveling and taking the AC plugs for every country you might or might not visit. Preparation for worst case seems prudent when going into space.
Not exactly kingdom lost for want of a nail, but lives lost for choosing the wrong outfits?
Kudos to you and your family!!
But that doesn’t mean it didn’t do permanent damage. Look at me... :)
and at least be handy
If the women find you handsome AND handy you've got it all sewn up.
And keep your stick on the ice.
that is why there is a spacex suit already on the iss, and a second one is coming up on the next cew dragon in a few weeks
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