NASA Astronauts Face Fiery Fate: Stranded in Space and the Risky Return Scenarios
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded in space for over two months, face a dangerous situation as they await their return to Earth. They were initially sent to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on what was intended to be an eight-day mission starting June 5. However, due to unexpected technical issues with the Starliner's thrusters, their return has been indefinitely delayed.
Amid growing concerns, Rudy Ridolfi, a former US military Space System Commander, has outlined three possible scenarios for the astronauts' return to Earth if they are forced to rely on the faulty Starliner. According to Ridolfi, the spacecraft needs to achieve a precise reentry angle to ensure the astronauts' safety. If the Starliner reenters at the correct angle, the return could proceed smoothly. However, if the angle is not correctly aligned, the consequences could be severe.
In the first scenario, the spacecraft could become stuck in space, with only 96 hours of oxygen left, if it fails to enter Earth's atmosphere at the correct angle. This could result in the Starliner bouncing off the atmosphere and remaining stranded in orbit.
In the second scenario, the spacecraft might also bounce off the Earth's atmosphere, failing to reenter due to an improper alignment. This would leave the astronauts stranded in space.
The worst-case scenario involves a steep reentry angle, which could cause the spacecraft to experience extreme friction, leading to the potential vaporization of the astronauts onboard. This situation would occur if the Starliner's ablative heat shield fails under the intense heat of reentry.
NASA is currently considering whether to proceed with the Starliner or to launch a rescue mission using SpaceX's Crew Dragon Capsule. The rescue mission, if approved, could take place in September. However, this would involve replacing two Russian cosmonauts scheduled to return to Earth, making room for Williams and Wilmore instead.
