What is Sunita Williams doing in space?
Sunita Williams is a brave astronaut who loves space! She has gone to the International Space Station (ISS) three times. The first time was in 2006, then in 2012, and her newest trip was in 2024.
This time, Sunita flew to space in a spaceship called the Boeing Starliner. She and Barry Wilmore, a fellow astronaut, landed on the ISS on 6th June 2024.
They were going to perform experiments for ten days and then return to Earth. Sadly, they have been stuck in the ISS since then.
Why are they stuck?
Both astronauts are stuck as their spaceship is facing some issues. Here’s what’s going on:
Helium leaks: Helium is needed for the spaceship to work. Leaks can cause problems.
Malfunctioning propellant valve: This part controls the spaceship’s fuel. If it breaks, the spaceship might not move or steer.
Five broken thrusters: Thrusters help the spaceship move. If they break, it is hard to control the spaceship.
NASA and Boeing are working hard to fix the spaceship. They hope to bring both astronauts to Earth by August. While they wait, Williams and Wilmore are helping their friends on the ISS with their work.
What’s next?
If the Boeing Starliner can’t be fixed, NASA has a backup plan! They might use a different spaceship to bring Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore back home.
Also, the ISS crew changes periodically, and a new crew is set to launch around 18th August 2024. So, NASA needs to fix the Starliner before then. If not, the Starliner will have to be removed from the ISS. This can cause it to float away in space!
