Imagine being stuck in a small, enclosed space for months on end. For many, that’s a nightmare. But for astronauts, it’s just part of the job. However, for two astronauts, things have taken a serious turn.
Here’s what’s happening.
Two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, have been stranded in space for over 60 days, and it looks like they might not make it back to Earth until early 2025. The problem? Their Boeing spacecraft has malfunctioned and can’t bring them home.
NASA has now revealed that Butch and Suni might need to be rescued from the International Space Station (ISS) by a spacecraft from Boeing’s rival, Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The astronauts embarked on their journey aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June, but it has been anything but smooth sailing. From helium leaks to thruster failures, their spacecraft has faced one issue after another, making it impossible for them to return to Earth.
Originally, Butch and Suni were only supposed to spend a week at the ISS. Now, they could be stuck there until next year.
NASA says the astronauts will likely have to return with SpaceX’s Dragon Crew-9 mission. However, that mission won’t launch until September and isn’t expected to bring them back until February.
1) Why is no one talking about the two astronauts stuck in space indefinitely???? AND it’s because of something Boeing made. Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams were originally scheduled to return to Earth via the Starliner (the Boeing craft) on June 22. pic.twitter.com/ppzxo8EuWq
— Mighty Mouse (@MightyM55070329) August 3, 2024
The plan to rescue the astronauts isn’t finalized yet. With multiple parties involved, getting a Boeing crew back to Earth on a SpaceX craft could be a major embarrassment for Boeing.
In the meantime, Butch and Suni are keeping busy on the ISS, helping other astronauts with their work.
But there’s an urgency to their rescue, as the ISS has limited resources, and their extended stay could put a strain on those supplies.
We’re all hoping for a quick and safe rescue for Butch and Suni. Spread the word, so more people can join in wishing them a safe return to Earth.
Share your thoughts in the comments down below!
