Due to a malfunction in the spacecraft, both the astronauts had to stop at the ISS. It is now believed that if both the passengers had returned by Starliner, they would have been safe. reports In this regard, Steve Stich, manager of NASA Commercial Crew Program, says that Starliner’s uncrewed landing went as expected. The spacecraft landed exactly as NASA and Boeing had designed it.
He said that if there was a crew on board the spacecraft, we would have undocked from the space station in the same way as it happened. As per the plan, they would de-orbit burn and enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Therefore, we believe that even with the crew it would have been a safe and successful landing.
However, at the last moment, NASA and Boeing postponed the return of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. This decision was taken due to a technical fault in the spacecraft. NASA and Boeing were not confirmed about the return of Starliner. Even the slightest disturbance could have put the lives of the passengers in danger.
Sunita and Butch will now have to stay in space for a few months. Their return will coincide with NASA’s Crew-9 mission, which is scheduled to be launched this month. This mission will return to Earth in February or March next year. Despite staying in space for so many days, Sunita and Butch will not be able to become the astronauts who stay in space for the longest time. This record is in the name of a Russian astronaut.
