Washington: NASA has delayed the return of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The new return date for astronaut Sunita Williams and her crew from the International Space Station (ISS) is now set for June 22, pushed back from the originally planned June 18.
The delay follows a report of a dangerous bacterium found on the ISS. This means Sunita Williams and fellow astronaut Barry Eugene “Butch” Wilmore will spend an additional four days on the space station. With this extension, the entire mission will last over two weeks. Before the spacecraft departs, NASA officials will evaluate the weather conditions at landing sites in the southwestern United States.
Superbug Affecting the Lungs
A multi-drug-resistant bacterium called Enterobacter bugandensis, known to resist antimicrobial medications and severely affect the lungs, has been detected on the ISS. Scientists have revealed that these bacteria have become stronger through genetic mutations in the closed environment of the space station.
These bacteria, brought to the ISS by astronauts, are more dangerous than their Earth counterparts. As the immune systems of astronauts on the ISS differ from those on Earth, it’s unclear how effective Earth-based treatments will be. The study was led by Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.
Sunita Williams and Wilmore arrived at the ISS on June 6 aboard the new Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The other seven astronauts have been on the station for a long time. Following the discovery of the bacteria, Williams and Wilmore will remain under further observation before they can return to Earth, which is why their journey has been delayed. Technical issues have caused multiple delays for the Starliner mission, which was initially scheduled to return after 10 days.
Is the Extended Stay a Problem?
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich stated that the delay helps to better understand the capabilities of the Starliner. During this extended period, Williams and Wilmore will conduct more evaluations of the spacecraft. A “hot-fire” test of seven out of the eight thrusters at the back of the spacecraft will be conducted, along with tests of the systems required for a safe return. Mark Nappi, Vice President and Program Manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program, mentioned that this delay offers an incredible opportunity to conduct valuable experiments and gather more data.
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NASA clarified that the mission was designed with the possibility of delays in mind, giving both NASA and Boeing ample time and opportunities for study and observation. This is the second time the return of the Starliner has been delayed. Initially planned for June 18, the date was rescheduled due to the need for more time to prepare and execute extra-vehicular activity (EVA) on the space station. The original plan set for June 13 was postponed due to a ‘spacesuit issue’.
The Starliner launch is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, marking Sunita Williams as the first woman to pilot a test mission to space. She has already spent 322 days in space. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Sunita was selected for NASA’s space program in 1998. This is her third space mission, with her first journey taking place on December 9, 2006. The mission faced challenges when helium gas leakage was detected upon the Starliner’s approach to the ISS, and some equipment malfunctioned, complicating the mission.
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