Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
NASA confirmed that Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is safe and continues her work on the International Space Station (ISS) despite a delayed return to Earth. This delay sparked concerns for the crew aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
Williams is scheduled to discuss the crew’s mission in a live address from the ISS on July 10 at 8:30 PM. The address aims to update the public on their activities and the status of their mission.
Originally planned for a 10-day mission, Williams and her crewmate Butch Wilmore have been on the ISS for over a month due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner.
The ISS currently hosts nine crew members. Williams has been involved in disassembling and preparing racks for future missions, as well as assessing air flow in filters. Wilmore and NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson loaded trash and discarded gear into the Cygnus spacecraft on July 2 for its upcoming release and disposal.
The Cygnus spacecraft, built by Northrop Grumman, is scheduled for release from the ISS’s Unity module later this month, ending its five-and-a-half-month stay. This operation is part of routine station maintenance and logistics.
The return trip for Williams and Wilmore was delayed due to five helium leaks and issues with five of the 28 thrusters on the Starliner. At least 14 functional thrusters are required for a safe return to Earth. NASA and Boeing are reviewing propulsion system data before setting a new return date.
NASA assured that there are ample supplies on the ISS, and the station’s schedule is relatively open until mid-August, allowing flexibility in planning the crew’s return.
Boeing is under scrutiny for the technical issues on its spacecraft’s maiden crewed mission. Recent concerns echo broader criticisms of Boeing’s safety culture and transparency, highlighted during CEO David Calhoun’s testimony before the US Congress.