hope-for-stranded-astronauts-finally-on-the-horizon

If you ever curse your fate for getting stuck in a long, agonizing traffic jam or for a last-minute cancellation of your flight, think of the ordeal of NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are stranded in space for months on end.

 

What was originally planned as a brief eight-day mission intended to test the capabilities of the Boeing Starliner, a spacecraft developed as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Programme, has turned out to be a nightmarish experience for the astronauts.

 

They are stuck in the International Space Station (ISS) due to critical technical issues with the Starliner. The glitches in its propulsion system and thrusters have prevented their safe return to the Earth.

 

Long-awaited homecoming

 

Now, hope is finally on the horizon. The long ordeal of the stranded astronauts is all set to end with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announcing that they would be brought back to Earth next month.

 

The two astronauts will head home on a SpaceX Dragon capsule that will leave Earth with the ISS replacement crew on March 12. After a few days' handover period, Williams and Wilmore will leave the ISS and head home, after having spent about 250 days in orbit. This will bring the curtains down on an unexpected “Lost in Space”-like saga that began with their June 5 launch on a mission to complete Starliner’s first piloted test flight.

 

There have been widespread concerns over the adverse health impact of prolonged stay in space, particularly as images from the space station showed Williams, the Indian-origin astronaut, looking gaunt and tired during the extended stay. Last month, the United States President Trump blamed the previous Biden Administration for abandoning the astronauts in space.

 

NASA’s plan to prepare a new capsule led to further delays in their return and now the American space agency has decided to use the old capsule for its next crew launch. Unlike Boeing’s troubled starliner, the SpaceX Crew Dragon, owned by Elon Musk, completed multiple successful missions, reinforcing its reputation as a more reliable option for crewed spaceflights.

 

Litany of glitches

 

Both Boeing and NASA have egg on their faces, as the botched-up operation, resulting in the astronauts getting stuck in space, raised several questions over human safety and exposed the dark side of space capitalism.

 

Long been a monopoly player, Boeing came under intense scrutiny due to ongoing problems with Starliner, highlighting the challenges in the commercial space industry.

 

There is growing criticism—justifiably so—against the aerospace giant for prioritising profits over human safety. Questions are being raised over whether the company followed the prescribed modules of safety and rescue operations without any waste of time when such glitches started appearing.

 

Technical glitches are not predictable, but safety modules for rescue cannot have the same uncertainty. It cannot escape the accountability for the failure of thrusters and leakage of helium resulting in the deterioration of the health of the astronauts inside the auto-locked vehicle.

 

The sequence of events raised questions about whether the launch should have gone ahead in spite of the leak. Another issue for NASA’s review is why these issues were not identified in any of the two previous uncrewed flight tests of Starliner. The key question to be asked is whether Starliner can operate reliably for onward and return journeys. Ground tests revealed that the likely source of the thruster problems was that their Teflon seals swell when hot, blocking propellant getting into the combustion chamber.

 

Boeing’s challenges are not limited to the space sector. It faced significant issues with commercial aircraft including the 737 Max crisis, raising broader concerns about safety standards. Around 20 whistle-blowers have come forward, raising alarms about safety and quality issues within the aerospace giant. The company made media headlines in recent times for all the wrong reasons: about doors and wheels flying off its jets in mid-air.

 

The crisis, with implications for the long-term health of the astronauts, has underscored the importance of robust contingency planning. Technical glitches, despite rigorous testing and preparation, can occur, making it vital to have backup strategies to ensure mission success and astronaut safety. NASA and its partners must be prepared to meet unforeseen challenges and ensure the safety and well-being of the astronauts.

 

Dark side of space capitalism  

 

With the entry of private corporations in the space sector, it appears that the space economy is not about exploration anymore but about exploitation and greed. In the bargain, the lives of astronauts are being pushed to the edge. Having already suffered a loss of around $1.6 billion in cost overruns on the Starliner fiasco, Boeing simply dreads the idea of being upstaged by its SpaceX competitor. Using a SpaceX craft to return the astronauts would be a blow to Boeing, which has for years tried to compete with the company and its more experienced Crew Dragon.

 

An important question is how difficult it would be for the astronauts to simply switch to coming home in a different spacecraft. The space suits they travelled in to the ISS on Starliner would not be suitable on the Space X craft if it is used to take them home. Space suits are incredibly complex pieces of engineering designed to protect and support the astronauts.

 

Stiff competition to gain a niche in the space sector by flaunting shiny new missions keeps risk and safety issues under wraps, far away from public scrutiny. This dark side of space capitalism is now coming to light, as there is no firm date and plan of rescue yet for Williams and Wilmore. The dilemma between saving lives and losing money is fully visible.

 

NASA too is coming under intense scrutiny. Two space shuttle disasters in 1986 and 2003, resulting in the death of 14 crew members, cast a dark shadow over its reputation.

 

Health concerns

 

Being stuck in space for a long period exposes the astronauts to several health problems arising out of exposure to radiation and microgravity. Reports suggest that Sunita Williams is already experiencing eyesight issues on the ISS, linked to the prolonged exposure to microgravity. Her condition is known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) and it reportedly affects the fluid distribution in the body leading to issues with vision.

 

Cosmic rays and high-energy particles from the Sun can also hit the retina and optic nerves, causing other problems. Astronauts also face potential brain damage due to extended stay in space.

 

Space is an unforgiving environment for humans. The absence of atmospheric pressure and the extreme vacuum conditions necessitate careful life support management. Astronauts rely on spacecraft systems to provide a controlled atmosphere, including oxygen levels necessary for human survival. Any failure in these systems can lead to serious health consequences.

 

The unique environment of space leads to fluid shifts in the body, where fluids redistribute towards the upper body, potentially increasing intracranial pressure. This condition can result in headaches, visual impairments, and pressure on the brain, which would be a concern for long-term health. Exposure to cosmic radiation in space poses a risk of DNA damage, which can increase the likelihood of developing cancer and other neurological conditions. After missions lasting six months, muscle mass can fall by as much as 30%. Bone mass, too, can also fall by between 1% and 2% for every month they spend in space.

 

An unplanned stay like Sunita William’s can lead to issues like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). No doubt, astronauts undergo rigorous training to make sure they are mentally and physically prepared for the challenges that may arise in any given mission. No human space flight is completely risk-free.