Sunita Williams went to the space station in the Starliner spacecraft. This was its first manned trial flight. If you read the story of Starliner Spacecraft, you will know that this spacecraft has been surrounded by problems from the beginning till the end.
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Sunita Williams flew the spacecraft i.e. Starliner Spacecraft capsule to the space station. This was its first manned trial flight. This means that for the first time a human was travelling to space in this capsule. This Starliner crew flight is a test spacecraft.
The full story of Boeing’s Starliner Spacecraft
Boeing Defence Space and Security Company has built this Starliner spacecraft. The purpose was to transport astronauts to the space station. NASA asked Boeing to build this spacecraft under the Commercial Crew Program. Funding was provided. The model of this spacecraft was first presented in 2010.
Boeing had a long association with NASA’s Apollo, Space Shuttle and Space Station programs. In October 2011, NASA gave Boeing the green signal to build the spacecraft. Starliner Spacecraft took six years to build. It was built in 2017. Its test flights continued till 2019. But no human was involved in these flights. These were unmanned flights.
Could not connect to the space station in the first flight
The first unmanned orbital flight test took place on 20 December 2019. There was no human in this flight. But due to two software glitches, it reached another orbit. Docking with the space station could not happen. Two days later, it landed back at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
Manoeuvring and thrusters failed on second flight
The second unmanned flight took place on 6 April 2020. The purpose was the same as the previous flight. It was to reach the space station. It was to dock. After this, it was to return. But the launch had to be postponed a bit. Preparations were made to launch it in August 2021. But the launch had to be postponed a bit. Preparations were made to launch it in August 2021. But then some deficiencies were found in the 13 propulsion valves of the spacecraft.
Read Also: Why is Sunita Williams stuck in space? How will she survive for 8 months?
After this, Boeing rebuilt the entire spacecraft. Preparations were made for a trial flight in May 2022. On May 19, 2022, the Starliner Spacecraft flew again. This time two dummy astronauts were seated in it. That is, inanimate models looking like humans. But the orbital maneuvering and attitude control system thrusters failed.
Somehow, on 22 May 2022, Starliner Spacecraft was connected to the space station. On 25 May 2022, Starliner returned to Earth from the space station. During reentry, the navigation system of the spacecraft malfunctioned. Communication went haywire. Also, the connection with the GPS satellite was lost. But Boeing said this is normal.
Sunita’s third flight was being postponed for 7 years
The third manned flight was scheduled for 2017. But due to several reasons, it got delayed till July 2023. On 1 June 2023, Boeing said that we are postponing this flight. On 7 August 2023, the company said that all the problems of the spacecraft have been resolved. The next flight was scheduled for 6 May 2024. That is, this year.
But then this launch was postponed because there was some problem with the oxygen valve in the Atlas rocket. After this, the launch was postponed due to helium leak in the spacecraft. Finally, on June 5, Sunita Williams and Barry Butch Wilmore left for space with this spacecraft. They were supposed to return 8 days later on June 13, but till now they are stuck on the space station.
This is the first manned flight of the Starliner
This is the first manned flight of the Starliner spacecraft. That is, it has flown to the space station with Sunita and Barry. Space travel has always been full of dangers. But this mission has created trouble for Boeing. The question arises whether our astronauts are in danger on the space station?
If it is said that Sunita and Barry are in danger, then it is wrong. The space station can dock eight spacecraft at a time. That means there is a possibility of attaching a new spacecraft at any time. There is enough space in the 365 feet long space station, where Sunita Williams can stay comfortably and safely.
Sunita and Barry have been there for only two weeks, while American astronaut Peggy Whitson spent 665 days on the space station. If there is any problem with the spacecraft, it can be sent back to Earth at any time. The delay is being done out of caution.
Is there much wrong with the Starliner?
NASA says that the leak of helium from Starliner is not a big deal. It is a sealing mistake. But Boeing said that they are trying to find out how and why this leak is happening. Or has happened. When the spacecraft was being connected to the space station, five of its thrusters stopped working. They had to be restarted.
NASA claims that there is no problem with these problems. Starliner can return to Earth at any time. But there is no hurry to bring the astronauts home, so we are investigating leisurely. We are trying to solve the problems.
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