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Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams with the crew after arriving at the space station on June 6.
More than two months have passed since Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams was stranded in space. Now news is coming that she is facing eye problems. According to reports, she has suffered this problem due to staying in zero gravity for a long time.
Williams has Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS). In this disease, the eyes are unable to get the nutrients they need. This causes blurred vision and a change in the shape of the eye. Currently, scans of his retina, cornea and lens have been done and he is being treated.
Apart from Sunita Williams, astronaut Butch Wilmore is also stranded in the International Space Station. Both astronauts reached the space station on June 6.
Sunita Williams and Bush Wilmore at the International Space Station. The photo is from July 9, 2024.
Stuck in space for 2 months due to a problem in the aircraft
Sunita Williams and her colleague Bush Wilmore went on a joint crew flight test mission of American aircraft company Boeing and NASA. This mission was to last for 8 days. They were supposed to return on June 13, but due to a malfunction in the spacecraft, they could not return.
Currently, both of them have been in the International Space Station for 2 months. NASA is constantly trying to find ways for their return. Recently, the US space agency NASA said that it may take till February 2025 for both of them to return.
Helium gas is leaking from the spacecraft’s thrusters
According to British news agency Reuters, within 25 days after launch, there were 5 helium leaks in the spacecraft capsule. 5 thrusters had stopped working. Apart from this, a propellant valve could not be closed completely. The crew present in space and the mission manager sitting in Houston, America, together are not able to fix it.
There are many thrusters in a spacecraft. With their help, the spacecraft changes its path and speed. At the same time, due to the presence of helium gas, pressure is created on the rocket. Its structure remains strong, which helps the rocket in its flight.
Complete process of landing in 6 points
- During reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere, the spacecraft will begin to slow down to a speed of 28,000 Km/hour. During this time the crew may feel a load of up to 3.5 g. After reentry, the heat shield on the front of the spacecraft will be removed to protect the parachute system.
- Two drag and three main parachutes will further slow the Starliner. The base heat shield will deploy, exposing the dual airbag system. 6 primary airbags will deploy at the base of the capsule. These will act as cushions during landing.
- The spacecraft will travel at a speed of about 6 kilometres per hour during landing. Possible landing locations include Wilcox in Arizona and Dugway Proving Ground in Utah. Edwards Air Force Base in California is available as an emergency landing site.
- After touchdown, the crew will remove the parachutes, turn off the spacecraft’s power and Mission Control will contact the landing and recovery teams via a satellite phone call. The recovery team will set up a tent around the Starliner and pump cool air into the spacecraft.
- The Starliner’s hatch will open and, less than an hour after landing, the two astronauts will go into a medical vehicle for a health check and then board a helicopter to reach NASA’s aircraft, which will take them to Houston’s Ellington Field.
- Following landing and successful recovery, NASA will complete work to certify the spacecraft as an operational crew system for missions to the space station. Missions following certification are expected to begin in 2025.
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Bhaskar Explainer-Why Sunita will not be able to return from space till 2025: There is a problem in Musk’s spacecraft too; How much will the body change in 8 months
Astronaut Sunita Williams and her colleague Bush Wilmore have been stranded in the space station for 2 months. They were sent on a mission of just 8 days on June 5, 2024, but due to a malfunction in the spacecraft, they could not return to Earth. Now the US space agency NASA has said that it may take till February 2025 for both of them to return.
How did Sunita get stuck in space, why can’t Elon Musk’s spacecraft bring her back right now, what is the danger of staying in space for 8 months, to know the answers to such 11 important questions in Bhaskar Explainer, read the full news…