Shocking news coming from International Space Station (ISS), two NASA astronauts, Indian origin Sunita Williams and Barry Willmore are stuck on the ISS Spacecraft. Engineers are now fixing helium leaks in the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
Two NASA astronauts Barry Willmore and Sunita are remain stuck in ISS amid its returning schedule as two week past to the Earth. As Per news report, helium leaks occurred in ISS spacecraft that lead to cause of stuck in the spacecraft. They remain aboard the ISS as Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which carried them to space on its inaugural crewed mission.
NASA has given assurance to people of America that Willmore and Williams are not in danger and could return home whenever necessary. Mission team are now review propulsion system data and manage the helium leaks. According to Newsweek report, the starliner is capable of staying docked at the ISS for up to 45 days.
NAS’s Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich said to reporters that “We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process. We are also letting the data drive, our decision making relative to managing the small helium system leaks and thruster performance.
The return of NASA astronauts has been postponed to June 26 and delayed indefinitely as of last Friday. Earlier this, it was scheduled to return on June 22, 2024.
Who are the Astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Willmore?
Sunita Williams
Sunita Williams is Indian Origin astronauts. She is 58 years old working in NASA and also a U.S Navy officer, serving as wilmore’s co-pilot on the starliner mission. She was selected by NASA in 1998, Williams has done best job in NASA and commanded the ISS, held the record for most spacewalk time, at 50 hours and 40 minutes. She is the first person to run a marathon and complete a triathlon in space. She has received a lots of rewards including the “Legion of Merit & Humanitarian Service Medal”.
Barry Wilmore
Barry Wilmore is a NASA astronaut and U.S Navy test pilot. He is 61 years old, selected by NASA in 2000. He served a space shuttle mission to the ISS in 2009 and also served on two spaceflights in previous years. He later returned to the ISS on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 2014 and completed a total of 178 days in the orbit.
He also worked as Navy test pilot and received a lots of reward including the Navy Meritorious Service Medal and the NCAA Theodore Roosvelt Award.