Sonny Williams and Barry Wilmore complete a mission that extended from an initial eight-day plan to nine months.
Sunita Williams and Barry (Butch) Wilmore – safely return to Earth after their stay at the International Space Station (ISS) was extended to nine months, compared to the original plan of only a week. They took off in an experimental Boeing spacecraft but had to wait for the arrival of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
On June 5, 2024, NASA launched a joint mission with Boeing on the Starliner spacecraft, which was originally planned for a short eight-day mission. As part of the mission, the goal was to conduct certain scientific experiments and transfer cargo to the International Space Station. However, during its stay at the station, several technical malfunctions were discovered, including helium leaks in the spacecraft's systems and malfunctions in the operation of the engines (thrusters). These malfunctions raised understandable concerns about the safety of returning the crew to Earth and led to a rethink about continuing the mission.
Administrative decisions and extension of stay
After a thorough examination of the situation, and in light of the problems discovered with the original transport vehicle, NASA decided that it was not worth risking a return using the problematic spacecraft. In light of this, it was decided to integrate the astronauts as part of the permanent crew on the International Space Station, until the arrival of an alternative spacecraft that could ensure a safe and orderly return to Earth. (To this end, SpaceX launched a small team of two astronauts about six months ago to make room on the way back. The two participated in the station crew in place of those two astronauts and are now returning to Earth.
During the extended stay on the space station, the astronauts actively participated in a number of scientific experiments and participated in essential maintenance activities to maintain the station's integrity. Thus, although the mission extended beyond the original plan, research and technology resources were utilized optimally while maintaining the safety of the crew.
The alternate spacecraft
To return the crew to Earth, NASA chose to use the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which was already docked to the International Space Station and was therefore considered a reliable and safe choice. According to established protocols, the spacecraft undocked from the station at 01:05 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, thus beginning its return to Earth. According to the precise plan, the spacecraft's splashdown is expected to occur near the coast of Florida at 17:57 p.m. EDT that day (23:57 Israel time).
Political issues and the relationship to the administrative system
Beyond the technical challenges, the mission was also exposed to political aspects that received widespread media attention. Claims made by some that the astronauts were “abandoned” in space, along with claims that there was a delay before the return, were discussed in public and media environments. Former President and founder of SpaceX, Elon Musk, expressed claims about delays and political decisions that caused the crew’s stay on the space station to be extended.
However, NASA emphasized that the continuation and return decisions were based on technical and budgetary risk assessments, not political directives. Agency representatives argued that the stage at which the mission was chosen to be extended was necessary to ensure the safety of the astronauts, and the switch to using an alternative spacecraft was based on technical necessity rather than direct political intervention.
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