{"id":126119,"date":"2024-08-13T19:47:37","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T14:17:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=editorial-analysis&#038;p=126119"},"modified":"2024-08-14T18:33:50","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T13:03:50","slug":"williams-and-wilmore-stuck-in-space","status":"publish","type":"editorial-analysis","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/williams-and-wilmore-stuck-in-space","title":{"rendered":"NASA&#8217;s Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore Could be Stuck in Space till 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A technical snag in the spacecraft that took them to the <\/span><b>International Space Station (ISS) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has forced astronauts <\/span><b>Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to spend an extended period in space.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.8998%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Relevancy for Prelims:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> International Space Station (ISS), Mir space station, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Relevancy for Mains:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Significance of the International Space Station (ISS), Extended space missions impacts on astronauts, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Why are Williams and Wilmore Stuck in Space?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last week, NASA said they might have to <\/span><b>wait till February 2025<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to return to Earth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though in an unprecedented situation, Williams and Wilmore are <\/span><b>not in danger<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ISS can comfortably <\/span><b>house them for the next six months.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, there are <\/span><b>seven other astronauts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the space station.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ISS, a <\/span><b>permanent space laboratory <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">orbiting Earth at a distance of<\/span><b> about 400 km,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is continuously manned and has never been without an astronaut since November 2000.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is <\/span><b>not the first time<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that astronauts have had to extend their stay at the ISS due to <\/span><b>technical glitches.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Williams and Wilmore<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, however, would have the <\/span><b>longest unscheduled stay<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if they return in February.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Williams and Wilmore travelled to the ISS on a Boeing spacecraft called <\/span><b>Starliner in June.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This spacecraft has made<\/span><b> two trips to the ISS earlier<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but this was the first time it was carrying astronauts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before the launch, a <\/span><b>helium leak in Starliner&#8217;s propulsion system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was detected but was not considered serious enough to abandon the journey.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although Starliner developed<\/span><b> two more similar leaks on its way,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> it reached its destination without any trouble.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to reports, due to the <\/span><b>longer exposure to microgravity on the ISS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, astronauts might experience several<\/span><b> health-related issues<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as bone density reduction, vision-related issues, and are also at a <\/span><b>higher risk of cancer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> due to DNA damage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is why space exploration missions are <\/span><b>kept short, not lasting more than a few weeks.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, after it docked with the ISS and the two astronauts transferred inside,<\/span><b> more problems emerged in Starliner, raising questions over the safety of the astronauts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on their return journey &#8211; originally <\/span><b>scheduled after just a week.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So far, ground engineers have <\/span><b>not been able to resolve all issues to everyone&#8217;s satisfaction, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">leaving Williams and Wilmore stranded as they do <\/span><b>not have a vehicle to return home.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both NASA and Boeing have said they hope to get <\/span><b>Starliner in order soon.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If that does not happen, the earliest that the astronauts <\/span><b>can return to Earth<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> would be in <\/span><b>February 2025 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on another vehicle that is set to travel to the ISS in September.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This spacecraft, <\/span><b>operated by SpaceX,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is supposed to<\/span><b> carry four astronauts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the ISS and bring them back in February.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if Williams and Wilmore also have to be <\/span><b>brought back<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, then the SpaceX spacecraft will carry<\/span><b> only two astronauts in September.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Can the ISS Accommodate Them?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In recent years, the ISS, which has been <\/span><b>operational for 25 years<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, has usually been hosting <\/span><b>seven astronauts <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at any given time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These astronauts mostly belong to the <\/span><b>five countries\/regions <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">whose space agencies manage this facility &#8211; the<\/span><b> United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Europe.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The astronauts carry out a<\/span><b> variety of space- based experiments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and are themselves subjects of some experiments, particularly those regarding the<\/span><b> study of impacts of the outer space environment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on human bodies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nonetheless, the ISS is <\/span><b>large enough to accommodate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> more astronauts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The number increases<\/span><b> when a new team comes to take over or when astronauts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> arrive for short visits like Williams and Wilmore did.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The facility is<\/span><b> bigger than a typical six-bedroom apartment <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in the US, according to NASA.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It has<\/span><b> six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and even a gym.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When visiting spacecraft <\/span><b>attach themselves,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> additional space is created.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cargo spaceships<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> routinely <\/span><b>make trips to the ISS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, carrying essential supplies and attending to maintenance requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On their return, these spacecraft take back <\/span><b>waste generated at the ISS and dispose of it into space<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the time of re-entering Earth&#8217;s atmosphere where it gets burnt due to friction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In fact, one such cargo spacecraft, called<\/span><b> Cygnus, operated by a private aerospace and defence firm Northrop Grumman,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> docked with the ISS last week.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It carried <\/span><b>more than 3,700 kg of cargo,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which is currently being unpacked by the astronauts on board.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It will remain <\/span><b>docked with the space station<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> till January after which it will return to Earth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As many as <\/span><b>eight spacecraft can simultaneously dock<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> themselves with the ISS.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cargo spacecraft, however,<\/span><b> cannot be used to bring back Williams and Wilmore <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as they are not equipped with the special capsules that can house humans in space.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+CSE+Books\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Have Astronauts Stayed in Space for a Long Duration?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spending <\/span><b>nine to 10 months<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in space is quite a long time but not unusual.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several astronauts have remained in space far <\/span><b>longer than that.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The current record is held by Russian cosmonaut<\/span><b> Valeri Polyakov, who spent 438 days<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the Mir space station between January 1994 and March 1995.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Russia&#8217;s Mir predated the ISS and was operational<\/span><b> between 1986 and 2001 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">before being brought down.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More recently, <\/span><b>US astronaut Frank Rubio completed 371 days<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the ISS between September 2022 and September 2023.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Several other astronauts, including women<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, have spent more than <\/span><b>300 days in space.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Williams and Wilmore<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are likely to <\/span><b>spend more than 250 days<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by the time they return.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both these astronauts are on <\/span><b>their third visit to the ISS.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Williams spent 196 days<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on her first visit in 2006- 2007 and then another 127 days in 2012. Wilmore, during his <\/span><b>two previous visits in 2014 and 2015,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has spent a total of <\/span><b>178 days<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the ISS.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Williams and Wilmore&#8217;s extended stay on the ISS highlights <\/span><b>technical challenges and logistical limitations <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of space travel. Despite delays, Williams and Wilmore&#8217;s extended stay on the ISS exemplifies <\/span><b>resilience and adaptability,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> showcasing human capability to overcome challenges in space exploration.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Mains Question:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/analyze-the-role-of-the-international-space-station-iss-in-accommodating-astronauts-for-extended-missions-evaluate-the-physiological-impacts-of-prolonged-space-missions-on-astronauts-15-marks-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q. Analyze the role of the International Space Station (ISS) in accommodating astronauts for extended missions. Evaluate the physiological impacts of prolonged space missions on astronauts. 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