Stranded In Space: Will Elon Musk Come To The Rescue?

By Greg Moriarty | Monday, 26 August 2024 05:15 AM
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Image Credit : SpaceX/Elon Musk

In a surprising turn of events, SpaceX, the aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded by Elon Musk, will be tasked with the responsibility of returning two NASA astronauts from space.

The astronauts, initially transported by Boeing's Starliner, have been left in a state of limbo due to technical issues with the spacecraft while docked at the International Space Station (ISS).

According to The Post Millennial, the announcement was made by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson to reporters this past Saturday. Astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stationed at the ISS since June 6, will remain in orbit until February of next year. At that time, they will be brought back to Earth aboard a SpaceX craft.

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Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX, expressed the company's readiness to assist NASA, stating, "SpaceX stands ready to support NASA however we can."

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The decision to use SpaceX instead of the Starliner was not taken lightly. Ken Bowersox, a top space operations administrator for NASA, explained, “We don’t just have to bring a crew back on Starliner.” Boeing, on its part, responded to the decision, stating, “If NASA decides to change the mission, we will take the actions necessary to configure Starliner for an uncrewed return."

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The extended stay of Wilmore and Williams at the ISS, which was initially planned to last only eight days, has been a result of multiple technical failures with the Starliner. This has led to a heated debate between NASA and Boeing officials regarding the readiness of the Starliner to safely transport the astronauts back to Earth. NASA manager Steve Stich highlighted the crux of the disagreement, stating, “The real disagreements are how much uncertainty they view in the data."

The unexpected turn of events underscores the importance of having multiple viable options for space travel and the crucial role private companies like SpaceX can play in supporting government agencies like NASA.

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