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| Science & Technology |
| Astronauts Are |
| 2024-07-25 |
| [TheAtlqntic] Before Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams took off for the International Space Station in early June, NASA removed some of their suitcases from their Boeing-made spacecraft. The ISS was in urgent need of a new pump for the system that recycles urine into water, so the personal items had to go. There’s no laundry on the ISS, but no matter. For their inaugural mission on Boeing’s Starliner, Butch and Suni, as the astronauts are known, were planning to stay on the space station for only about a week. But one week turned into another, and then another, and then seven. Before Starliner launched, NASA had set a 45-day deadline for keeping the spacecraft in orbit for the sake of the capsule’s batteries, which hadn’t been tested in space yet. Today is day 48. According to NASA officials, the batteries are still performing well, and Starliner could remain docked to the space station as late as mid-August while the agency and its aerospace contractor troubleshoot issues with the spacecraft... Related: International Space Station: 2024-07-22 Nasa all set to replace ISS with SpaceX's 'Axiom Space' International Space Station: 2024-07-01 ISS orbit was adjusted for the autumn crew changeover International Space Station: 2024-06-24 Astronauts Stranded in Space as Boeing Starliner Faces Multiple Issues |
| Posted by:Whavick Scourge of the Apes9857 |
| #6 Dareth, I would not put it past our current Deep State to sacrifice those astronauts in order to give Musk a black eye if he tries and they can cause him to fail. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2024-07-25 15:48 |
| #5 5 will get you 10 that SpaceX will have to send a craft up. Huge black eye for NASA and Boeing |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2024-07-25 13:35 |
| #4 TPTB will wait until they need a distraction in the news cycle to make it an emergency |
| Posted by: Griter+Slash1619 2024-07-25 09:33 |
| #3 SpaceX has already offered to send a capsule up, but NASA has said to hold off. Because Boeing knows that would be the end of their manned space business. |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2024-07-25 08:49 |
| #2 Elon to the courtesy phone. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2024-07-25 07:28 |
| #1 I remember several SF stories from 70-80es with the plot: astronauts stuck on space station - saved by the hero. Guess DEI & heroes don't go together. |
| Posted by: Grom the Reflective 2024-07-25 03:12 |