Sunita Williams News Update: The wait for the return of Sunita Williams, who went on NASA’s space mission, seems to be coming to an end. The US space agency NASA will decide today whether she can return in the same aircraft (Boeing Starliner) in which she went or will return by SpaceX Dragon. Due to technical fault in Boeing Starliner, the return of Sunita Williams, who went to space in June for just 8 days, has not been possible.
NASA has now said that a decision will be taken on Saturday on whether Boeing’s new capsule is completely safe to bring back Sunita Williams and her partner Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station, and if yes, whether they should be brought back using this or their return should be ensured through SpaceX Dragon. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and other top officials can make an announcement in this regard from Houston today.
What is NASA’s backup plan…
Williams and Wilmore, who went into space via Starliner, were supposed to dock with the International Space Station for an eight-day mission, but it had to be delayed for months after a leak in the capsule and the failure of some of its thrusters. Now all the risks associated with whether a return is possible through this or not are being reviewed for a long time and data-based analysis is being done.
NASA has a backup plan to have two seats ready on an upcoming SpaceX Crew Dragon mission. If NASA follows through on the SpaceX backup plan, Wilmore and Williams will not return home until that mission concludes in February 2025 and the Starliner will attempt to return to Earth empty.
If they return via Starliner then…
If NASA decides that the Starliner is safe for the astronauts, the capsule will take them home much earlier. They may return within the next month. Although this is unlikely, the eyes of the world are currently fixed on NASA’s announcement today regarding the return of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.
Sunita Williams Health Update: Sunita is having problems with her eyes in space
Heart beats are racing for Sunita Williams’ return, return possible by February 2025 with SpaceX Dragon capsule (Photo Credit: X)
Sunita Williams is facing problems
Sunita Williams has started having problems with her eyes due to a special effect of gravity in space. She is facing difficulty in seeing. Astronauts face risks related to radiation in space missions. Even their bodies are affected by zero gravity.
Tags: Explainer, International Space Station, Nasa study, Space news
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 24, 2024, 07:33 IST