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સુનિતા વિલિયમ્સ પર મોટી આફત
કલ્પના ચાવલા અવકાશમાં જ શહીદ થઈ એ વાતને જાજો સમય થયો. હાલમાં ભારતીય મૂળની અવકાશયાત્રી સુનિતા વિલિયમ્સ પર પણ અવકાશી આફત આવી છે.તે ધરતી પર ક્યારે પાછી આવે તે અનિશ્ચિત છ
Sunita Williams - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunita_Williams
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Sunita Lyn Williams (née Pandya; born September 19, 1965) is an American astronaut, United States Navy officer, and former record holder for most spacewalks by a woman (seven) and most spacewalk time for a woman (50 hours, 40 minutes).[1][2][3][4][5][6] Williams was assigned to the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 14 and Expedition 15. In 2012, she served as a flight engineer on Expedition 32 and then commander of Expedition 33. In 2024 she returned to the ISS on the Boeing Crewed Flight Test, the first crewed mission of the Boeing Starliner.
Early life and education
Williams, a native of Needham, Massachusetts, was born in Euclid, Ohio. Her father, Deepak Pandya, was an Indian-born neuroanatomist from Mehsana district, Gujarat, while her mother, Ursuline Bonnie Pandya (née Zalokar) was a Slovene-American. Her parents resided in Falmouth, Massachusetts. She was the youngest of three children. Her brother, Jay Thomas, is four years older and her sister, Dina Annad, is three years older. Williams' paternal family is from Jhulasan in the Mehsana district in Gujarat, India,[7] whereas her maternal family is of Slovene descent.[8] Williams has taken the Slovenian flag,[9] a samosa and Carniolan sausage to space in celebration of her Indian and Slovenian heritage.[10] Her nicknames are Suni in the United States[11] and Sončka in Slovenia.[12]
Williams graduated from Needham High School in 1983. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical science from the United States Naval Academy in 1987, and a Master of Science degree in engineering management from Florida Institute of Technology in 1995.[4]
Military career
Williams was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy in May 1987. After a six-month temporary assignment at the Naval Coastal System Command, she was designated a Basic Diving Officer. She next reported to the Naval Air Training Command, where she was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1989. She received initial H-46 Sea Knight training in Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 3 (HC-3), and was then assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 8 (HC-8) in Norfolk, Virginia, with which she made overseas deployments to the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Provide Comfort. In September 1992, she was the officer-in-charge of an H-46 detachment sent to Miami, Florida, for Hurricane Andrew relief operations aboard USS Sylvania. In January 1993, Williams began training at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. She graduated in December, and was assigned to the Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Directorate as an H-46 Project Officer and V-22 chase pilot in the T-2. Later, she was assigned as the squadron Safety Officer and flew test flights in the SH-60B/F, UH-1, AH-1W, SH-2, VH-3, H-46, CH-53, and H-57.[4]
In December 1995, she went back to the Naval Test Pilot School as an instructor in the Rotary Wing Department and as the school's Safety Officer. There she flew the UH-60, OH-6, and the OH-58. She was then assigned to USS Saipan as the Aircraft Handler and the Assistant Air Boss. Williams was deployed on Saipan in June 1998 when she was selected by NASA for the astronaut program.[4] She has logged more than 3,000 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft types.[13]
Career in NASA
Williams began her astronaut candidate training at the Johnson Space Center in August 1998.[4]
STS-116
Astronaut Sunita L. Williams, STS-116 mission specialist, participates in the mission's third planned session of extravehicular activity (EVA)
Williams was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) with STS-116, aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, on December 9, 2006, to join the Expedition 14 crew. In April 2007, the Russian members of the crew rotated, changing to Expedition 15.
Expeditions 14 and 15
Williams became the first person to run a marathon from the space station on April 16, 2007
After launching Williams arranged to donate her pony tail to Locks of Love. Fellow astronaut Joan Higginbotham cut her hair aboard the International Space Station and the ponytail was brought back to Earth by the STS-116 crew.[14] Williams performed her first extra-vehicular activity on the eighth day of the STS-116 mission. On January 31, February 4, and February 9, 2007, she completed three spacewalks from the ISS with Michael López-Alegría. During one of these walks, a camera became untethered, probably because the attaching device failed, and floated off to space before Williams could react.[15]
Joan Higginbotham and Williams work the controls of the Canadarm2 in the ISS's Destiny Laboratory
On the third spacewalk, Williams was outside the station for 6 hours and 40 minutes to complete three spacewalks in nine days. By 2007, she had logged 29 hours and 17 minutes in four spacewalks, eclipsing the record previously held by Kathryn C. Thornton for most spacewalk time by a woman.[4][6] On December 18, 2007, during the fourth spacewalk of Expedition 16, Peggy Whitson surpassed Williams, with a cumulative EVA time of 32 hours, 36 minutes.[16][17] In early March 2007, she received a tube of wasabi in a Progress spacecraft resupply mission in response to her request for more spicy food. When she opened the tube, which was packaged at one atmospheric pressure, the gel-like paste was forced out in the lower pressure of the ISS. In the free-fall environment, the spicy geyser was difficult to contain.[18]
On April 26, 2007, NASA decided to bring Williams back to Earth on the STS-117 mission aboard Atlantis. Although she did not break the U.S. single spaceflight record that had been recently broken by former crew member Commander Michael López-Alegría, she did break the record for longest single spaceflight by a woman.[4][19][20] Williams served as a mission specialist and returned to Earth on June 22, 2007, at the end of the STS-117 mission. Poor weather at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral forced mission managers to skip three landing attempts there over a 24-hour period. They then diverted Atlantis to Edwards Air Force Base in California, where the shuttle touched down at 3:49 p.m. EDT, returning Williams home after a 192-day stay in space.
Marathon in space
On April 16, 2007, she ran the first marathon by any person in space.[21] Williams was listed as an entrant for the 2007 Boston Marathon, and completed the distance in 4 hours and 24 minutes.[22][23][24] The other crew members cheered her on and gave her oranges during the race. Williams' sister, Dina Pandya, and fellow astronaut Karen L. Nyberg ran the marathon on Earth, and Williams received updates on their progress from Mission Control. In 2008, Williams participated in the Boston Marathon again.[25]
Expeditions 32 and 33
Williams exercises on COLBERT during ISS Expedition 32Williams appears to touch the bright Sun during a spacewalk conducted on September 5, 2012.
Williams was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 15, 2012, as part of Expedition 32/33. Her Russian spacecraft Soyuz TMA-05M docked with the ISS for a four-month stay at the orbiting outpost on July 17, 2012.[26] The docking of the Soyuz spacecraft occurred at 4:51 GMT as the ISS flew over Kazakhstan at an altitude of 252 miles. The hatchway between the Soyuz spacecraft and the ISS was opened at 7:23 GMT and Williams floated into the ISS to begin her duties as a member of the Expedition 32 crew. On the Soyuz spacecraft, she was accompanied by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko. Williams served as the commander of the ISS during her stay onboard ISS Expedition 33, succeeding Gennady Padalka.[27] She became the commander of the International Space Station on September 17, 2012, being only the second woman to achieve the feat.[28] Also in September 2012, she became the first person to do a triathlon in space, which coincided with the Nautica Malibu Triathlon held in Southern California.[29] She used the International Space Station's own treadmill and stationary bike, and for the swimming portion of the race, she used the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) to do weightlifting and resistance exercises that approximate swimming in microgravity. After swimming half a mile (0.8 km), biking 18 miles (29 km), and running 4 miles (6.4 km), Williams finished with a time of one hour, 48 minutes and 33 seconds, as she reported.[29]
She returned to Earth with fellow astronauts Yuri Malenchenko and Akihiko Hoshide on November 19, 2012, touching down in the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan. Helicopters joined the search-and-recovery crew to assist them, as their capsule parachuted down some 35 kilometres (22 mi) from the planned touchdown site due to a procedural delay.[30]
Commercial Crew program
In July 2015, NASA announced Williams as one of the first astronauts for U.S. Commercial spaceflights.[31] Subsequently, she began working with Boeing and SpaceX to train in their commercial crew vehicles, along with other chosen astronauts. In August 2018 she was assigned to the first operational mission flight (Starliner-1) to the International Space Station of Boeing CST-100 Starliner.[32] On April 18, 2022, NASA said that it had not yet finalized which of the cadre of Starliner astronauts, including Barry Wilmore, Michael Fincke, and Williams, would fly on the Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission or the first operational Starliner mission.[33] On June 16, 2022, NASA confirmed that CFT will be a two-person mission, consisting of Wilmore and Williams.[34] On June 5, 2024, Sunita Williams became the first woman to fly on a flight test of an orbital spacecraft when the Starliner launched to orbit with Williams as the spacecraft's pilot.[35]
Spacewalks
As of August 2012, Sunita Williams had made seven spacewalks totaling 50 hours and 40 minutes,[36] at the time putting Williams fifth on the list of most experienced spacewalkers.[37] On August 30, 2012, Williams and JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide ventured outside the ISS to conduct US EVA-18. They removed and replaced the failing Main Bus Switching Unit-1 (MBSU-1), and installed a thermal cover onto Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 (PMA-2).[38]
Personal life
Williams with Slovenian Defense Minister Ljubica Jelušič (2009)Williams at Science City Kolkata in April 2013
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watching now
Started streaming 7 hours ago #SunitaWilliamsStuckInSpace #sunitawilliams #SpaceNews
सुनीता विलियम्स, अंतराष्ट्रीय स्पेस स्टेशन पर फंसी हुई है और NASA की मदद का इंतजार कर रही है. सुनीता जिस स्टारलाइनर कैप्सूल में गई है उसमें हीलियम लीक होने की वजह से खराबी आई है. हीलियम की लीकेज ही दोनों एस्ट्रोनॉट की वापसी में ब्रेकर बनी है. टेंशन वाली बात ये भी है कि अब सिर्फ 25 दिन का फ्यूल बोइंग स्टारलाइनर कैप्सूल में बचा है. अब सवाल है कि सुनीता और उनके साथ गए बुच विल्मोर वापस कैसे आएंगे ? अमेरिका और नासा के पास अब विकल्प क्या है ?
Sunita Williams is stranded on the International Space Station and is waiting for NASA's help. The Starliner capsule in which Sunita is travelling has malfunctioned due to helium leaking. Helium leakage has become a breaker in the return of both astronauts. The worrying thing is that now only 25 days of fuel is left in the Boeing Starliner capsule. Now the question is how will Sunita and Butch Wilmore who went with her return? What options do America and NASA have now?
#SunitaWilliamsStuckInSpace #sunitawilliams #SpaceNews #trending
ઇન્ટરનેશનલ સ્પેસ સ્ટેશન પર હાલ કટોકટી સર્જાઈ છે, નાસા તરફથી ISS ગયેલા અવકાશયાત્રીઓ સુનિતા વિલિયમ્સ અને બૂચ વિલ્મોર મુશ્કેલીમાં ફસાયા છે, હાલ બંનેને બોઇંગના સ્ટારલાઇનર અવકાશયાનમાં ઈમરજન્સી શેલ્ટર લેવાની ફરજ પડી હતી. અવકાશના ફરી રહેલા કાટમાળથી ISSને નુકશાન પહોંચવાની શક્યતાને કારણે ઇમરજન્સી ઓર્ડર જાહેર કરવામાં આવ્યો હતો.
નાસાને સ્પેસ સ્ટેશનની નજીકની ઊંચાઈએ સેટેલાઇટ તૂટી પડવાની જાણ કરવામાં આવી, ત્યાર બાદ ઇમરજન્સી ઓર્ડર જાહેર કરવામાં આવ્યો છે.
સાવચેતીના પગલા તરીકે, મિશન કંટ્રોલે તમામ ક્રૂ સભ્યોને તેમના સંબંધિત અવકાશયાનમાં આશ્રય લેવાની સૂચના આપી હતી. સુનિતા વિલિયમ્સ અને બૂચ વિલ્મોર, જેઓ 5 જૂનથી ISS પર સવાર હતા, તેમને સ્ટારલાઇનર કેપ્સ્યુલમાં આશરો લેવાની ફરજ પડી હતી.
અવકાશયાત્રીઓ શેલ્ટરમાં હતા ત્યારે લગભગ એક કલાક સુધી, મિશન કંટ્રોલે કાટમાળના ભ્રમણ માર્ગનું નજીકથી નિરીક્ષણ કર્યું. ખતરાની સંભાવના ખતમ થઇ જતા, ક્રૂને તેમના અવકાશયાનમાંથી બહાર નીકળવા અને સ્ટેશન પર સામાન્ય કામગીરી ફરી શરૂ કરવા માટે સ્પષ્ટતા આપવામાં આવી હતી.
આ ઘટનાને કારણે અવકાશમાં ફરી રહેલા તૂટી પડેલા સેટેલાઈટમાં કાટમાળનાની સમસ્યા અને ભ્રમણકક્ષામાં કામગીરી દરમિયાન સલામતી પ્રોટોકોલ અંગે ચર્ચા શરુ થઇ છે. કટોકટીની પરિસ્થિતિઓમાં સ્ટારલાઇનરનો સંભવિત લાઇફબોટ તરીકે ઉપયોગ કરવાની ક્ષમતા અંગે પણ જાણ થઇ છે.
સુનિતા વિલિયમ્સ અને બૂચ વિલ્મોર નિર્ધારિત સમય કરતા વધુ રોકાણ કરી ચુક્યા છે, પૃથ્વી પર પરત ફરવા માટેના સ્ટારલાઇનર અવકાશયાનમાં તકનીકી સમસ્યાઓ ઉભી થઇ છે.
યોજના મુજબ 8-દિવસના મિશન માટે ગયેલા બંને અવકાશયાત્રીઓ ત્રણ અઠવાડિયાથી વધુ સમયથી અવકાશમાં છે. નાસા અને બોઇંગ હિલીયમ લીક અને થ્રસ્ટર સમસ્યાઓને ઉકેલવા માટે કામ કરી રહ્યા છે.
અમેરિકન સ્પેસ એજન્સી નાસાની અવકાશયાત્રી સુનિતા વિલિયમ્સ અવકાશમાં અટવાઈ ગઈ છે. તેણી તેના એક સાથી બૂચ વિલ્મોર સાથે અવકાશમાં ગઈ હતી. તેઓ 13 જૂને પૃથ્વી પર પાછાં ફરવાનાં હતાં, પરંતુ સ્પેસક્રાફ્ટમાં ખામીને કારણે તેઓ પરત ફરી શકતાં નથી. ભારતીય મૂળની સુનિતા વિલિયમ્સ અને તેના પાર્ટનર બૂચ વિલ્મોર હજુ પણ સ્ટારલાઈનર એરક્રાફ્ટ સાથે ઈન્ટરનેશનલ સ્પેસ સ્ટેશનમાં અટવાયેલાં છ્ર
તેઓ થોડાં અઠવાડિયાં પહેલાં જ સ્ટેશન પર પહોંચ્યાં હતાં
ભારતીય મૂળના અવકાશયાત્રી સુનિતા વિલિયમ્સ અને તેમના પાર્ટનર બૂચ વિલ્મોર હજુ પણ સ્ટારલાઈનર એરક્રાફ્ટ સાથે ઈન્ટરનેશનલ સ્પેસ સ્ટેશન માં અટવાયેલાં છે. તે થોડાં અઠવાડિયાં પહેલાં જ સ્ટેશન પર પહોંચ્યાં હતાં. તેમનું પરત ફરવાનું બે વખત મોકૂફ રાખવામાં આવ્યું છે, પરંતુ સારા સમાચાર એ છે કે નાસાએ તેની પરત ફરવાની તારીખ જાહેર કરી છે. હકીકતમાં, બોઇંગ સ્ટારલાઇનરમાં ટેક્નિકલ સમસ્યાના કારણે પ્લેન અવકાશમાં અટવાયું છે.
સુનિતા વિલિયમ્સ અને બૂચ વિલ્મોરને લઈને બોઈંગની સ્ટારલાઈનર કેપ્સ્યુલ 5 જૂને પૃથ્વી પરથી ઊપડ્યું હતું અને 6 જૂને સફળતાપૂર્વક આંતરરાષ્ટ્રીય અવકાશ સ્ટેશન પર પહોંચ્યું હતું. ટેક્નિકલ સમસ્યાના કારણે પ્લેન હજુ પણ સ્ટેશનમાં અટવાયું છે. તેમાં આવી રહેલી સમસ્યાઓને કારણે પૃથ્વી તરફ આવનાર અવકાશયાત્રીઓની યોજના હજુ પણ સંતુલનમાં લટકી રહી છે.
સ્પેસ સેન્ટરમાંથી સુનિતા વિલિયમ્સ અને તેના પાર્ટનરની પરત ફરવાની તારીખ નક્કી કરવામાં આવી છે. નાસાના ક્રૂ મેનેજર સ્ટીવ સ્ટિચ કહે છે કે, સ્ટારલાઇનર 45 દિવસ સુધી ઇન્ટરનેશનલ સ્પેસ સ્ટેશન પર ડોક કરી શકે છે. નાસાનાં આંતરિક સૂત્રોનું કહેવું છે કે, સુનિતા વિલિયમ્સ અને બૂચ વિલ્મોરની પૃથ્વી પર પરત ફરવાની તારીખ 6 જુલાઈ નક્કી કરવામાં આવી છે. આ પહેલાં નાસાએ બે વખત પૃથ્વી પર ઉતરાણની તારીખ મોકૂફ કરી છે. આ પહેલાં 15મી જૂન હતી, ત્યાર બાદ 23મી જૂને પણ પ્લેન સ્પેસ સેન્ટરથી પૃથ્વી પર ટેકઓફ કરી શક્યું ન હતું.
મિશન સાથે સંકળાયેલા નાસાના ટેક્નિકલ સ્ટાફનું કહેવું છે કે, એરક્રાફ્ટનાં થ્રસ્ટર્સ વધુ ગરમ થઈ ગયાં હતાં અને હિલિયમ ઓવરલોડ થઈ ગયું હતું. નાસા અને બોઇંગના કર્મચારીઓની બનેલી એક મિશન મેનેજમેન્ટ ટીમ ડેટાની તપાસ કરી રહી છે. 6 જૂને સ્ટારલાઈનર ઈન્ટરનેશનલ સ્પેસ સ્ટેશન પર ઊતર્યા પછી, મુસાફરોએ શોધ્યું કે, 5 હિલિયમ લીક થઈ ગયું છે અને 5 થ્રસ્ટર્સે કામ કરવાનું બંધ કરી દીધું છે. આ સિવાય એક વાલ્વ પણ સંપૂર્ણપણે બંધ નથી. આ કારણોસર અવકાશમાં ક્રૂને સમારકામ કરવામાં વધુ સમય લાગી રહ્યો છે
શરૂઆતમાં આ મિશન નવ દિવસ ચાલવાનું હતું. વિલિયમ્સ અને વિલ્મોર 13 જૂને પૃથ્વી પર પાછા ફરવાના હતા, પરંતુ અવકાશયાનમાં હિલિયમ લીક અને થ્રસ્ટરની નિષ્ફળતા સહિત સ્ટારલાઈનર સાથેની ઘણી ટેક્નિકલ સમસ્યાઓને કારણે તેમની પરત તારીખ સતત લંબાવવામાં આવી હતી. નાસાએ પરત ફરવાની તારીખ 26 જૂન નક્કી કરી હતી, પરંતુ બાદમાં તે મુલતવી રાખવામાં આવ્યું હતું. બોઇંગ સ્ટારલાઇનર અવકાશયાન હાલમાં ISS સાથે ડોક થયેલ છે અને લાંબા સમય સુધી ડોક રહેવાની ક્ષમતા ધરાવે છે. નાસાના કોમર્શિયલ ક્રૂ પ્રોગ્રામ મેનેજર સ્ટીવ સ્ટિચના જણાવ્યા અનુસાર, સામાન્ય સંજોગોમાં તે 45 દિવસ સુધી જોડાયેલ રહી શકે છે, પરંતુ જો જરૂરી હોય તો તેનો સમયગાળો 72 દિવસ સુધી વધારી શકાય છે
નાસા અને બોઇંગ ટીમો સ્ટારલાઇનર સામેના પડકારોને દૂર કરવા માટે કામ કરી રહી છે. સમસ્યાને સુધારવાના પ્રયાસોમાં ઘણા હિલિયમ લીક અને થ્રસ્ટરની ખામીઓ છે. એન્જિનિયરો મૂળ કારણોને સમજવા અને અવકાશયાત્રીઓના માટે સૌથી સલામત પગલાં નક્કી કરવા પરીક્ષણો અને અનુકરણો કરી રહ્યા છે. સ્ટીવ સ્ટિચ કહે છે કે, તેઓ SOPનું પાલન કરી રહ્યા છે અને ડેટાના આધારે નિર્ણયો લઈ રહ્યા છે. તે માને છે કે એકવાર આ ઉકેલાઈ જશે તો પાછા આવી શકાશે. સ્પેસએક્સની અવકાશયાત્રીઓને ISS સુધી લઈ જવાની ક્ષમતાને જોતાં, સ્પેસએક્સના ક્રૂ ડ્રેગન અવકાશયાનનો ઉપયોગ ફસાયેલા અવકાશયાત્રીઓને બચાવવા માટે કરવામાં આવે તેવી શક્યતા પર ચર્ચા થઈ રહી છે. જોકે, નાસા અને બોઇંગના અધિકારીઓ સ્પેસએક્સ લાવવાને બદલે સ્ટારલાઇનરને ઠીક કરવામાં વ્યસ્ત છે.એવી આશા રાખવામાં આવે છે કે બન્ને અવકાશ યાત્રીઓ સહીસલામત ધરતી પર પરત આવશે .
સુરેશ ભટ્ટ
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Astronaut Sunita Williams Stuck Aboard ISS, Starliner Issues Return Delayed | Sunita Stuck In Space
world
Indian-American NASA astronaut Sunita Williams along with Butch Wilmore are currently stuck in space on a Starliner spacecraft. Originally scheduled to be an 8-day mission, the astronauts and their crew members are struggling to make their way back to Earth. It has been revealed that the spacecraft has witnessed five helium leaks since its departure from Earth. It was also revealed that five manoeuvring thrusters went dead and a propellant valve failed to close completely. This was Starliner’s first crewed mission as a part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
first published: Jun 27, 2024 10:01 pm
Sunita Williams stuck in space: ISRO scientist on how Starliner can make safe return, ‘Human lives are involved so…’
June 29, 2024
Business News/ Science / News/ Sunita Williams stuck in space: ISRO scientist on how Starliner can make safe return, ‘Human lives are involved so…’
1 min read 29 Jun 2024, 06:03 PM IST
Written By Sanchari Ghosh
NASA delays Boeing Starliner's return to Earth from ISS with first crew of astronauts, Barry Eugene 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita Williams, due to technical issues. No new date set, raising questions about the return timing of the astronauts on Boeing's first crewed mission.
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore will fly into space for the third time on Tuesday as the pilot aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft in its first crewed test flight. (PTI)
NASA has further postponed the Boeing Starliner's return to Earth from the International Space Station with its first crew of astronauts - Barry Eugene "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams, to allow more time for review of technical issues encountered.
It did not set a new date, raising questions about the timing of the return of the two astronauts on Boeing's first crewed mission, which had initially been set for June 26, itself a pushback from the first potential date of June 14.
Commenting on what is likely to follow, ISRO Scientist Mylswamy Annadurai says, "Any space program, when transiting, it needs to be seen that all the systems for the next save are ready. While launching also, it was seen, that there were a couple of delays. After the boarding, both of them were evacuated. The real launch took place after making sure that all the countdowns and everything was OK. Now when the system is fully ready, they can come back."
“It is part and parcel of the space game... People will not take any steps until they are doubly sure, especially when human lives are involved. Things will be taken care of properly...," he added.
The crewed test of the spacecraft, test-flown to space two times since 2019 without humans on board, has encountered five failures of its 28 maneuvering thrusters, five leaks of helium gas meant to pressurize those thrusters, and a slow-moving propellant valve that signalled unfixed past issues.
The issues and the additional tests run by NASA and Boeing call into question when exactly Starliner's crew will be able to make the roughly six-hour return journey home, and add to the program's broader problems.
Boeing has spent $1.5 billion in cost overruns beyond its $4.5-billion NASA development contract.
NASA wants Starliner to become a second U.S. spacecraft capable of ferrying astronauts with the ISS, alongside SpaceX's Crew Dragon, its primary ride since 2020.
But Boeing's Starliner program has battled software glitches, design problems and subcontractor disputes for years.
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Sunita Williams could be in space for months; NASA reiterates astronauts are ‘not stranded’
June 29, 2024
With NASA officials focussed on completing their new test campaign in New Mexico, there's no date for Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's return on the horizon.
Although Sunita “Suni” Williams and Butch Wilmore's Boeing Starliner spacecraft was originally projected to carry out its mission for a few days, the two astronauts have been seemingly stuck in space for three weeks and counting.
In this photo provided by NASA, Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, center, pose with Expedition 71 Flight Engineers Mike Barratt, left, and Tracy Dyson, both NASA astronauts, in their spacesuits aboard the International Space Station's Quest airlock on June 24, 2024. (NASA via AP)(AP)
According to the latest developments, NASA has no plans to bring back Williams and Wilmore anytime soon, and their stay could extend for months. The government agency and Boeing have still not set a date for returning the capsule “Calypso” to Earth. This is the first time the Boeing Starliner is carrying people.
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Why Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's return has been further delayed?
Despite helium leaks and thruster outages on its way to the ISS in June, officials have repeatedly reiterated that the two astronauts are “not stranded” in space and are safe and sound, docked at the station. Instead of flying back, the Starliner team right away, officials back on Earth have their target set on testing the spacecraft's thruster technology at White Sands, New Mexico, which they hope to complete before the Boeing Starliner returns home.
Also read | NASA is paying Elon Musk's SpaceX $843m to destroy the International Space Station
During a press conference, Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, said: “We think the testing could take a couple of weeks. We’re trying to replicate the inflight conditions as best we can on the ground.” The agency is not planning to “target a specific date for [for return until” the testing is completed.
He's previously ensured that the Starliner is capable of returning at any point if necessary. NASA and Boeing's collaboration is reportedly delaying its return for further testing to gather data about the spacecraft's performance, especially the thruster system.
According to CNN, NASA is weighing its options of extending the maximum length of Starliner's mission from 45 days to 90 days. On Friday, Stich said, “I want to make it very clear that Butch and Suni are not stranded in space.”
As the officials are conducting tests to understand why the thrusters malfunctioned, Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of the Boeing Commercial Crew Program, said, “So, if (the test in New Mexico) comes back and gives us all the answers, then we can just undock and come home.”
Continued emphasis on how the delayed return to Earth is an optional choice, Nappi added, “We’re not stuck on ISS. The crew is not in any danger, and there’s no increased risk when we decide to bring Suni and Butch back to Earth.”
Record-Setting Female Astronaut Takes Command of Space Station
space.com/17624-female-astronaut-sunita-williams-commands-station.html
Tariq Malik
September 15, 2012
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 32 flight engineer and commander of the International Space Station's Expedition 33 crew, poses for a photo with her spacesuit ahead of an Aug. 30, 2012, spacewalk. (Image credit: NASA)
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who holds the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman, took charge of the International Space Station Saturday (Sept. 15), becoming only the second female commander in the orbiting lab's 14-year history.
Williams took charge of the space station from Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, who is returning to Earth on Sunday after months commanding the outpost's six-person Expedition 32 crew. Williams launched to the station in July and will command its Expedition 33 crew before returning to Earth in November.
"I would like to thank our [Expedition] 32 crewmates here who have taught us how to live and work in space, and of course to have a lot of fun up in space," Williams told Padalka during a change of command ceremony. She will officially take charge of the station on Sunday, after Padalka and two crewmates board their Soyuz spacecraft for the trip home.
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams (front left) takes command of the International Space Station from cosmonaut Gennady Padalka (front right) during a ceremony marking the start of the Expedition 33 increment aboard the space station on Sept. 15, 2012. (Image credit: NASA TV)
Padalka, NASA astronaut Joe Acaba and cosmonaut Sergei Revin are scheduled to undock from the space station Sunday at 7:09 p.m. EDT (2309 GMT) and land in the Central Asian steppes of Kazakhstan at 10:53 p.m. EDT (0253 on Sept. 17). The trio is wrapping up a five-month mission to the space station and Padalka thanked his crewmates and flight controllers on the ground for their help during the flight.
Sunita Williams arrived at the space station on July 17 on a Soyuz spacecraft with two crewmates: Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko. They will be joined by three new crewmembers in October.
Williams, 46, is a captain in the U.S. Navy and flying on her second long-duration space mission. She first launched into space in 2007 and spent 195 consecutive days in space, setting a record for the longest single spaceflight by a female astronaut. On Wednesday (Sept. 19), she'll celebrate her birthday in space.
In a NASA interview before launch, Williams said a friend asked her if she was nervous about commanding the space station. She said no, adding that the more than two years of training alongside her Expedition 32 and 33 crewmates, as well as the Mission Control team, prepared all the space station crewmembers for life in space.
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"When you get up on the space station, you know what to do, so I’m not nervous about it all," Williams said. "I’m psyched."
The first female commander of the International Space Station was NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who commanded the orbiting lab's Expedition 16 mission between fall 2007 and spring 2008. Whitson later served as NASA's chief astronaut and recently stepped down from the post to rejoin the Astronaut Corps' spaceflying ranks. Two other female astronauts, Eileen Collins and Pam Melroy, commanded NASA space shuttles.
Mission Control sent Williams a few words to mark her new role as space station skipper.
"Congratulations on the promotion to your new position," a flight control told Williams after today's ceremony. "We know you'll run a fine ship up there."
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=============================================================Where is Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to go to space, what is he doing now?
Story outline
Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian astronaut who embarked on an unparalleled journey through space in 1984.
His cosmic voyage unfolded through a joint collaboration between ISRO and the Soviet Interkosmos Space program alongside two Soviet cosmonauts.
Rakesh Sharma's unwavering patriotism reverberated across India with the phrase "Saare jahan se accha" (better than the rest of the world).
Presently, Sharma resides in the tranquil Coonoor district of Tamil Nadu.
He continues to contribute to ISRO's ambitious missions, serving on the National Space Advisory Council for the Gaganyaan venture.
(Source: Twitter)
Rakesh Sharma, the pioneering Indian astronaut who embarked on an unparalleled journey through space, occupies an enduring position within India's historical narrative. In the year 1984, he imprinted his name among the stars by commencing a mission lasting 21 days and 40 minutes, propelling India to remarkable accomplishments in space.
Sharma's pioneering spirit led him into uncharted territory, etching an unforgettable mark in the hearts of every Indian. His cosmic voyage unfolded through a joint collaboration between ISRO and the Soviet Interkosmos Space program. Aboard Soyuz T-11 on April 3, 1984, alongside two Soviet cosmonauts, Sharma embarked on his cosmic journey. Amid weightlessness, he captured captivating glimpses of space, seamlessly blended yoga into the environment, and conducted experiments that expanded our scientific horizons.
A poignant moment arose when then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, inquired about how India appeared from space. With unwavering patriotism, Sharma's response reverberated across the nation: "Saare jahan se accha" (better than the rest of the world). This instant united the nation around the shared quest for knowledge and scientific advancement, transcending barriers of religion, caste, and gender. Even recently, Indians stayed awake not for entertainment but to glean insights about upcoming space endeavors.
As Chandrayaan 3 triumphantly touched down on the lunar surface, Rakesh Sharma joined fellow Indians in congratulating ISRO, reaffirming his connection with India's space odyssey.
Presently, Sharma resides in the tranquil Coonoor district of Tamil Nadu, relishing a life of understated yet extraordinary significance. Shying away from the limelight, he continues to contribute to ISRO's ambitious missions, serving on the National Space Advisory Council for the Gaganyaan venture.
IANS
File Photo
While his name may not dominate modern headlines, Sharma's legacy resonates within history textbooks and India's celestial sojourn. He remains an emblem of limitless space exploration and human aspirations.
Sharma's journey from education to spacefaring is awe-inspiring. Born on January 13, 1949, he attended esteemed institutions including St. Ann's High School, St. George's Grammar School, and Nizam College in Hyderabad. His passion for a military career led him to the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune.
Ascending to the rank of Squadron Leader, Sharma joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1970, amassing achievements that culminated in piloting MIG-21s during the 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh. His valor translated into 21 combat missions flown on these aircraft.
Sharma's unwavering determination drove him to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, earning him the prestigious Soviet 'Hero of the Soviet Union' award in 1982.
Yet, humility remains his hallmark. As Chief Test Pilot at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Sharma's courage was tested during a MIG-21 test flight. Surviving a harrowing incident near Ozar, Nashik, he emerged with grace.
Retiring in 2001, Sharma settled in Coonoor with his wife, savoring life's simpler pleasures: golfing, gardening, yoga, reading, and exploration. In his serenity, Rakesh Sharma embodies the essence of a life dedicated to soaring heights and profound peace.
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( Originally published on Aug 24, 2023 )
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Astronaut Sunita Williams forced to stay aboard ISS over Boeing risk
news9live.com/science/bta-nasa-sunita-williams-forced-to-stay-aboard-iss-400-km-above-earth-2587198
Harish Dugh
21 June 2024
NASA’s Sunita Williams is stuck on the ISS after Boeing Starliner suffered many serious problems.
NASA will not risk bringing Sunita Williams and another astronaut back to Earth on the Boeing Starliner if there are are problems with it.
The news on Sunita Williams return from the ISS is not good. It was not always so bad. In the beginning, it was expected to be an easy ride to the International Space Station (ISS) and back, but it has turned out to be far from that. For Sunita Williams and other astronauts aboard the ISS, the delay may not be very worrying, but the fact that their return craft, the Boeing Starliner has many problems, definitely is leading to many creased burrows back home on Earth at US space agency NASA.
The Boeing Starliner has developed a surprising number of glitches and any and all of them can be serious as they are up there in the sky where no one really can do an extensive repair job. The Starliner, which will be used by Sunita Williams and companions to ride back home, has developed problems with helium leaks affecting the propulsion system and 5 separate thrusters undergoing problems too. While 4 of these are back up, the 5th is still suffering from a glitch and is likely inoperable.
Also Read
Williams and the other astronaut Barry Wilmore were supposed to spend 8 days at the ISS. Now, they may end up spending 20 days. The original return flight was slated for between June 18 and June 22.
Why Sunita Williams return is a problem
The problem stems mainly from the fiery re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. If even one thing goes wrong, the spacecraft may be lost. And that is why NASA is saying it will not risk the crew’s safety till they are sure that everything is working properly.
The food situation on the ISS is comfortable at 400 days though.
So, till NASA and Boeing don’t fix the Starliner, there is no chance of Sunita Williams returning back to Earth. In effect, the crippled Starliner has forced Williams to stay aboard the ISS.
Whether the new return deadline will work or not is impossible to say for now.
Notably, Boeing has been facing many problems with its aeroplanes and some have crashed. And just yesterday, the US Senate had grilled Boeing CEO David Calhoun over the horrifying glitches their products were suffering from.
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Sunita Williams and team 'not stranded in space', but there's no return date yet, says NASA
June 29, 2024
This photo provided by NASA shows the Starliner spacecraft docked to the Harmony module of the International Space Station, orbiting 262 miles above Egypt's Mediterranean coast, on June 13, 2024. File Photo- AP
Two NASA astronauts will stay longer at the International Space Station as engineers troubleshoot problems on Boeing’s new space capsule that cropped up on the trip there.
NASA on Friday did not set a return date until testing on the ground was complete and said the astronauts were safe.
“We’re not in any rush to come home,” said NASA’s commercial crew program manager Steve Stich.
Veteran NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams blasted off aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule for the orbiting laboratory on June 5. It was the first astronaut launch for Boeing after years of delays and setbacks.
The test flight was expected to last a week or so, enough time for Wilmore and Williams to check out the capsule while docked at the station. But problems with the capsule’s propulsion system, used to maneuver the spacecraft, prompted NASA and Boeing to delay the flight home several times while they analyzed the trouble.
They also wanted to avoid conflicting with spacewalks by station astronauts. But a spacewalk this week was canceled after water leaked from an astronaut’s spacesuit. The issue hasn’t been resolved and the planned spacewalk next week was postponed.
As Starliner closed in on the space station a day after launch, last-minute thruster failures almost derailed the docking. Five of the capsule’s 28 thrusters went down during docking; all but one thruster was restarted.
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Starliner already had one small helium leak when it rocketed into orbit and several more leaks sprung up during the flight. Helium is used to pressurize fuel for the thrusters. Boeing said this week that the two problems aren’t a concern for the return trip.
In delaying the astronauts’ return, NASA and Boeing said they needed more time to collect information about the thruster trouble and leaks while the capsule was docked. Both are in the service module, a unit attached to the capsule that burns up during reentry.
NASA initially said the Starliner could stay docked at the space station for up to 45 days due to battery limits. But in-flight tests have shown that limit can be extended, Stich said.
Officials said they won’t set a return date while they do ground tests of capsule thrusters in the New Mexico desert. They want to try to replicate the situation that occurred during docking.
“I want to make it very clear that Butch and Suni are not stranded in space," said Stich, adding that Starliner is designed for a mission of up to 210 days.
After the space shuttle fleet retired, NASA turned over astronaut rides to private companies. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has made nine taxi flights for NASA since 2020. NASA plans to alternate between SpaceX and Boeing in ferrying crews to and from the space station.
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