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After getting stuck on the International Space Station since June, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams may face several more months in space, partly due to a lack of compatible spacesuits. Initially scheduled for an eight-day mission, complications such as a helium leak and thruster issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft have prolonged their stay. NASA, alongside Boeing, is exploring the safety of their return on the Starliner, but is also considering alternatives due to potential risks.
One option, as NASA discussed in a recent press conference, could involve sending the astronauts back on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that is already attached to the station. However, adopting this method involves logistical challenges.
Swapna Krishna, a journalist who runs the space-focused YouTube channel Ad Astra, explained that the Dragon spacecraft typically carries up to four passengers, and adding Wilmore and Williams would exceed this limit. Furthermore, their Starliner suits are not designed for use in the Dragon spacecraft, implying they would have to travel back without suits, posing less risk but reduced safety should complications arise.
This situation highlights the consequences of NASA’s more relaxed approach with its commercial crew program, which from the 2010s allowed private companies greater leeway in developing and manufacturing gear, including spacesuits, with just broad safety conditions to meet. NASA’s decision not to mandate cross-compatibility between different commercial spacecraft spacesuits might offer benefits, Krishna noted, pointing out that separate designs reduce the risk of simultaneous drawbacks across spacecraft if a common defect in suits was discovered.
NASA continues to weigh its options, including possibly awaiting another Dragon spacecraft set to arrive at the station in September. This ship could potentially bring additional suits compatible with Dragon and carry only two crewmembers, thus leaving room for Wilmore and Williams to return fully suited. However, their original Starliner would need to undock and return to Earth on its own to free up docking space, a maneuver which Boeing has concerns over its feasibility.
Amid these dilemmas and potential plans, the prolonged space stay means significant personal sacrifices for the astronauts, including missing major family milestones. As each option unfolds, both the astronauts and their families brace for an extended mission far beyond the intended duration.