A technical snag in the spacecraft that took them to the International Space Station (ISS) has forced astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to spend an extended period in space.

Why are Williams and Wilmore Stuck in Space?

• Last week, NASA said they might have to wait till February 2025 to return to Earth.
• Though in an unprecedented situation, Williams and Wilmore are not in danger.
• The ISS can comfortably house them for the next six months.
• Currently, there are seven other astronauts at the space station.
• The ISS, a permanent space laboratory orbiting Earth at a distance of about 400 km, is continuously manned and has never been without an astronaut since November 2000.

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• This is not the first time that astronauts have had to extend their stay at the ISS due to technical glitches.
• Williams and Wilmore, however, would have the longest unscheduled stay if they return in February.
• Williams and Wilmore travelled to the ISS on a Boeing spacecraft called Starliner in June.
• This spacecraft has made two trips to the ISS earlier but this was the first time it was carrying astronauts.
• Before the launch, a helium leak in Starliner’s propulsion system was detected but was not considered serious enough to abandon the journey.
• Although Starliner developed two more similar leaks on its way, it reached its destination without any trouble.
• According to reports, due to the longer exposure to microgravity on the ISS, astronauts might experience several health-related issues such as bone density reduction, vision-related issues, and are also at a higher risk of cancer due to DNA damage.
• This is why space exploration missions are kept short, not lasting more than a few weeks.
• However, after it docked with the ISS and the two astronauts transferred inside, more problems emerged in Starliner, raising questions over the safety of the astronauts on their return journey – originally scheduled after just a week.
• So far, ground engineers have not been able to resolve all issues to everyone’s satisfaction, leaving Williams and Wilmore stranded as they do not have a vehicle to return home.
• Both NASA and Boeing have said they hope to get Starliner in order soon.
• If that does not happen, the earliest that the astronauts can return to Earth would be in February 2025 on another vehicle that is set to travel to the ISS in September.
• This spacecraft, operated by SpaceX, is supposed to carry four astronauts to the ISS and bring them back in February.
• However, if Williams and Wilmore also have to be brought back, then the SpaceX spacecraft will carry only two astronauts in September.

Can the ISS Accommodate Them?

• In recent years, the ISS, which has been operational for 25 years, has usually been hosting seven astronauts at any given time.
• These astronauts mostly belong to the five countries/regions whose space agencies manage this facility – the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Europe.
• The astronauts carry out a variety of space- based experiments and are themselves subjects of some experiments, particularly those regarding the study of impacts of the outer space environment on human bodies.
• Nonetheless, the ISS is large enough to accommodate more astronauts.
• The number increases when a new team comes to take over or when astronauts arrive for short visits like Williams and Wilmore did.
• The facility is bigger than a typical six-bedroom apartment in the US, according to NASA.
• It has six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, and even a gym.
• When visiting spacecraft attach themselves, additional space is created.
• Cargo spaceships routinely make trips to the ISS, carrying essential supplies and attending to maintenance requirements.
• On their return, these spacecraft take back waste generated at the ISS and dispose of it into space at the time of re-entering Earth’s atmosphere where it gets burnt due to friction.
• In fact, one such cargo spacecraft, called Cygnus, operated by a private aerospace and defence firm Northrop Grumman, docked with the ISS last week.
• It carried more than 3,700 kg of cargo, which is currently being unpacked by the astronauts on board.
• It will remain docked with the space station till January after which it will return to Earth.
• As many as eight spacecraft can simultaneously dock themselves with the ISS.
• The cargo spacecraft, however, cannot be used to bring back Williams and Wilmore as they are not equipped with the special capsules that can house humans in space.

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Have Astronauts Stayed in Space for a Long Duration?

• Spending nine to 10 months in space is quite a long time but not unusual.
• Several astronauts have remained in space far longer than that.
• The current record is held by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who spent 438 days at the Mir space station between January 1994 and March 1995.
• Russia’s Mir predated the ISS and was operational between 1986 and 2001 before being brought down.
• More recently, US astronaut Frank Rubio completed 371 days at the ISS between September 2022 and September 2023.
• Several other astronauts, including women, have spent more than 300 days in space.
• Williams and Wilmore are likely to spend more than 250 days by the time they return.
• Both these astronauts are on their third visit to the ISS.
• Williams spent 196 days on her first visit in 2006- 2007 and then another 127 days in 2012. Wilmore, during his two previous visits in 2014 and 2015, has spent a total of 178 days at the ISS.

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Conclusion

Williams and Wilmore’s extended stay on the ISS highlights technical challenges and logistical limitations of space travel. Despite delays, Williams and Wilmore’s extended stay on the ISS exemplifies resilience and adaptability, showcasing human capability to overcome challenges in space exploration.

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