2024-09-07 05:12:36
The crisis-ridden spacecraft “Starliner” has returned to Earth without any major problems after three months in space. The capsule, manufactured by the US company Boeing, undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) 400 kilometers above Earth shortly after midnight German time without a crew on board, as live images from the US space agency NASA showed. After around six hours, the “Starliner” touched down in the desert of the US state of New Mexico.
Shortly before the “Starliner” landed, two braking chutes and then three parachutes opened as planned, allowing the capsule to touch down gently in the desert. Finally, six landing airbags unfolded. When it touched down, the capsule should only have a speed of 6.4 kilometers per hour. A NASA commentator in the live stream said that this corresponds roughly to the speed of an elevator in a high-rise building.
Astronaut Suni Williams and astronaut Barry Wilmore were actually supposed to fly back to Earth with the spacecraft – three months ago. But on the outbound flight, some of the engines overheated and failed, and helium leaked out. Due to safety concerns, NASA officials decided to keep the two astronauts on the space station. They were actually only supposed to stay there for eight days, but now it will probably be eight months.
The experts from Boeing and NASA disagreed about how high the risk to the astronauts’ health would have been on a manned return flight. Enormous forces act on space capsules when they re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Numerous sensors on board the capsule were designed to measure what the conditions would have been like for people inside when they re-entered the atmosphere.
Williams and Wilmore are to be brought back to Earth on another spacecraft: NASA is keeping two of the four seats free for them on a mission to the ISS planned for the end of September on the “Dragon” developed by the private space company SpaceX. The return flight, however, is not planned until February.
Williams and Wilmore’s two “Starliner” spacesuits, however, are already back on Earth – because this Boeing equipment cannot be used in the SpaceX capsule. If something happens on the ISS before the new “Dragon” arrives, only Williams can get into a reserve spacesuit.
However, two emergency seats have been set up in the cargo hold of a “Dragon” capsule for the two of them, which also work without a spacesuit. In the event of an emergency on the space station, they could board it together with four other astronauts from the ISS and fly back to Earth.
1725686560
#Starliner #capsule #returned #Earth #problems
Table of Contents
Boeing Starliner Spacecraft Returns to Earth Safely After Three Months in Space
On September 7, 2024, the Boeing Starliner spacecraft successfully touched down in the desert of New Mexico, USA, after spending three months in space. The unmanned capsule, manufactured by Boeing, undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) 400 kilometers above Earth and landed safely without any major problems.
The Crisis-Ridden Spacecraft
The Starliner spacecraft was initially intended to carry astronauts Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore back to Earth three months ago. However, during the outbound flight, some of the engines overheated and failed, and helium leaked out, prompting NASA officials to keep the two astronauts on the space station for safety reasons. They were originally supposed to stay on the ISS for eight days, but now they will remain there for eight months.
Disagreement Between Boeing and NASA
There was a disagreement between experts from Boeing and NASA regarding the risk to the astronauts’ health on a manned return flight. The re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere poses enormous forces on space capsules, and numerous sensors on board the capsule were designed to measure the conditions that would have been experienced by people inside during re-entry.
Successful Landing
The Starliner spacecraft landed safely in the desert of New Mexico, with two braking chutes and then three parachutes opening as planned to slow down the capsule’s descent. Six landing airbags unfolded, allowing the capsule to touch down gently at a speed of only 6.4 kilometers per hour, comparable to the speed of an elevator in a high-rise building.
Future Plans
Astronauts Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore will be brought back to Earth on another spacecraft, with NASA reserving two seats for them on a mission to the ISS planned for the end of September on the “Dragon” spacecraft developed by SpaceX. The return flight is not planned until February.
About the Starliner Spacecraft
The Starliner spacecraft is designed to accommodate seven passengers, or a mix of crew and cargo, for missions to low-Earth orbit [[2]]. The spacecraft is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which aims to provide safe and reliable transportation to and from the ISS [[3]].
the successful return of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft to Earth marks a significant milestone in the development of commercial crew spacecraft. Despite the initial setbacks, the spacecraft has demonstrated its capabilities, and its data will be crucial in improving the safety and reliability of future space travel.
References:
What were the circumstances surrounding the Boeing Starliner spacecraft’s unmanned return to Earth after three months in space?
Boeing Starliner Spacecraft Returns to Earth Safely After Three Months in Space
On September 7, 2024, the Boeing Starliner spacecraft successfully touched down in the desert of New Mexico, USA, after spending three months in space. The unmanned capsule, manufactured by Boeing, undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) 400 kilometers above Earth and landed safely without any major problems.
The Crisis-Ridden Spacecraft
The Starliner spacecraft was initially intended to carry astronauts Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore back to Earth three months ago. However, during the outbound flight, some of the engines overheated and failed, and helium leaked out, prompting NASA officials to keep the two astronauts on the space station for safety reasons. They were originally supposed to stay on the ISS for eight days, but now they will remain there for eight months.
Disagreement Between Boeing and NASA
There was a disagreement between experts from Boeing and NASA regarding the risk to the astronauts’ health on a manned return flight. The re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere poses enormous forces on space capsules, and numerous sensors on board the capsule were designed to measure the conditions that would have been experienced by people inside during re-entry.
Successful Landing
The Starliner spacecraft landed safely in the desert of New Mexico, with two braking chutes and then three parachutes opening as planned to slow down the capsule’s descent. Six landing airbags unfolded, allowing the capsule to touch down gently at a speed of only 6.4 kilometers per hour, comparable to the speed of an elevator in a high-rise building.
Future Plans
Astronauts Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore will be brought back to Earth on another spacecraft, with NASA reserving two seats for them on a mission to the ISS planned for the end of September on the “Dragon” spacecraft developed by SpaceX. The return flight is not planned until February.
About the Starliner Spacecraft
The Starliner spacecraft is designed to accommodate seven passengers, or a mix of crew and cargo, for missions to low-Earth orbit [[2]]. The spacecraft is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which aims to provide safe and reliable transportation
