Two American astronauts currently stranded in space might face a dire situation with only 96 hours of oxygen left, as an expert has suggested.
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore launched into space on June 5, expecting to return just over a week later. However, more than two months have passed, and they continue to reside in space.
Their predicament began when the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that ferried them to the International Space Station encountered technical issues, delaying their return to Earth.
In an update on August 14, NASA reassured everyone that Williams and Wilmore are ‘doing great’ and staying occupied aboard the ISS.
NASA acknowledged that the astronauts might remain in space for up to eight months if they must await a SpaceX craft. However, an earlier return is possible if the Boeing Starliner can be used.
Amid ongoing discussions on the best way to bring the astronauts back, Rudy Ridolfi, a former US military space systems commander, shared his views on the Starliner. He outlined three severe scenarios that could happen in a worst-case situation.
Speaking to CNBC TV 18, Ridolfi emphasized that the safe re-entry of the Starliner depends significantly on the alignment of the spacecraft’s service module. Misalignment could lead to three potential outcomes:
One possible scenario, Ridolfi mentioned, is that the Starliner might reenter Earth’s atmosphere at an incorrect angle, causing it to bounce off and stay in orbit.
The spacecraft could then become stranded with malfunctioning thrusters and only 96 hours of oxygen remaining.
A misalignment might also cause the Starliner to fail in entering the atmosphere entirely, leaving it adrift in space indefinitely.
The most critical scenario, Ridolfi stated, is if the Starliner reenters the atmosphere at too steep an angle. This could cause extreme heat and friction to affect the Starliner’s heat shield.
Such a severe situation might lead to the failure of the heat shield, causing the spacecraft to burn up entirely.
As these are worst-case scenarios, it’s likely that NASA has considered them as well, given that Ridolfi has outlined them.
The agency has indicated that it will decide on the return of Williams and Wilmore by the end of August.