ISRO Chief S. Somnath : NASA astronaut Sunita Williams went to space in June and was supposed to return after a week. However, due to problems with the Starliner spacecraft, her return was delayed, and she has now been in space for over two months. NASA is looking for ways to bring her back safely. ISRO Chief S. Somanath was asked if India could assist with her return. He said that right now, only Russia and the US can help her.
ISRO Chief S. Somnath: India Can’t Assist in Sunita Williams’ Rescue; US and Russia Are the Only Options
On the podcast BeerBiceps, ISRO Chief S. Somanath said that India can’t help rescue Sunita Williams at the moment. India doesn’t have the capability to send a spacecraft for a rescue. Right now, only the US and Russia can help. The US has the Crew Dragon spacecraft, and Russia has the Soyuz, which could be used for the rescue.
There have been rumors that Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are stranded in space. Somanath mentioned that the situation isn’t critical right now. The Boeing Starliner spacecraft had some problems, which is why NASA is being extra careful. The Starliner had issues before its launch, causing delays. NASA decided to go ahead with the launch but is now concerned about the risks of returning, which can be more dangerous than launching. Boeing is still testing the spacecraft to ensure it’s safe, but they haven’t completed all the tests yet.
The main problem with the Boeing Starliner is its faulty propulsion system, which raises safety concerns for bringing astronauts back to Earth. NASA has said they need to make a decision soon, ideally by the end of August.
NASA is considering using Elon Musk’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission, scheduled for late September, to bring the astronauts back. They would then return on another Crew-9 flight early next year.
ISRO Chief S. Somanath mentioned that NASA might use Crew Dragon for the return, but human spaceflight is complicated and needs careful planning. This is likely why they are still deciding.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and other officials will meet on Saturday to finalize the return date or timeline for the astronauts.
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