Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams has now been in space for over fifty days, awaiting news on her return to Earth. Despite the uncertainty, NASA assures that Williams and her seven fellow astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are safe and in good spirits.
An Indian space expert humorously compared Williams’ situation to being in a state of ‘Trishanku’—a metaphor for being indefinitely caught between two difficult options.
NASA has made progress in diagnosing issues with the Boeing Starliner, which include malfunctioning thrusters and helium leaks. However, there is still no clear timeline for when Williams and her crewmate Butch Wilmore might return, or whether they will use the same Starliner spacecraft.
Boeing reports that the Starliner can stay docked with the ISS for up to ninety days before its batteries might deplete. This leaves U.S. space technologists about forty days to decide whether to use the Starliner for the return trip or switch to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon or the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, both of which are currently docked at the ISS.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Manager, Steve Stich, noted that the crew is making the most of their time on the station and is prepared with contingency plans. Boeing’s Starliner program manager, Mark Nappi, expressed confidence in the spacecraft’s ability to safely return the crew.
Boeing, which initially contracted for $4.2 billion but has spent approximately $5.7 billion, is facing broader challenges and scrutiny over its safety practices. NASA is conducting tests on the Starliner’s thrusters and helium system to address ongoing issues and prepare for a potential return.
The global space community remains concerned as the mission’s duration far exceeds its initial ten-day estimate, with no end date in sight.
