Astronauts Stuck In Space Can’t Return Home For Weeks
There are two astronauts who are now “stuck” in space for a few weeks. It’s looking like they’re going to be up there for a while. They won’t be coming home for more than a month!
Two astronauts have been stuck in space for more than 49 days after their ride home is going through some technical difficulties. The trip was supposed to only last eight days, but now it’s going to be closer to a two month venture, at least! It sounds like an absolute nightmare scenario.
Astronauts Stuck In Space Can’t Return Home For Weeks
This is why I would never have any interest in traveling to space. Sure, it’s vast, and it’s beautiful, and there’s the wonders of the unknown. However, if I went to space, I would want to return home promptly. Getting stuck up there for nearly two months would not be ideal.
According to The New York Post, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were meant to only spend eight days in space following their launch aboard the Boeing Starline, which is the maiden crewed voyage for the spacecraft. However, there’s always a risk that comes with being the first. Now, the Boeing spacecraft is suffering from some concerning helium leaks and is not ready to return to Earth. Due to that, they’re expected to stay in space until sometime in August, which was not the original plan! The New York Post reports that NASA and Boeing experts say they need to complete a final set of tests before coming home; those tests will be conducted this weekend.
Mark Nappi, the manager of the Boeing Starliner program, tells The New York Post, “My regret is that we didn’t say we would stay up there until the mission is complete, but I’m very confident we have a good vehicle to bring the crew back.” If the tests don’t go according to plan, there are several options to bring the crew back home safely. One idea would be to hitch a ride on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spaceship. Nothing like being saved by your competitive rival (especially when that rival is Elon Musk).
Can you imagine being stuck in space for roughly two months longer than expected? Thankfully, it sounds like they should have enough food and water to last during that time. Hopefully, they overpacked in case of an emergency. However, it’s such a small space you have to wonder if they’re going crazy or driving each other mad up there. When it’s just the two of you, and stuff starts going wrong, and plans change, things can easily go wrong. I’ve seen that during my own road trips and those were just a couple of hours away–not up in space! Hopefully they’re able to bring the crew back home safely soon.
