Two astronauts may not come back? Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has once again postponed its return date, and the problem is more serious than expected. The return date, originally scheduled for June 14, has been repeatedly delayed, and it may not be possible to return by July. What exactly went wrong with the Boeing spacecraft?
(Source: Red Star News, Observer Network)
In June this year, Boeing's "Starliner" finally ushered in its first manned flight in the midst of much attention.
Carrying two veteran astronauts, Butch and Suni, who are nearly 60 years old, are flying into space with great anticipation to complete a series of scientific missions on the International Space Station.
However, the flight was destined to be extraordinary from the start.
Before the launch of the rocket, Boeing engineers identified some "small" problems, but did not pay enough attention.
Helium leaks? Propeller failure? These glitches, which were considered "insignificant" before launch, gradually evolved into a huge crisis as the spacecraft lifted off.
Soon after the spacecraft lifted off, the ground command center discovered that several thrusters were not working properly and helium was leaking. Helium plays a crucial role in the propulsion system, as it is responsible for pushing propellants into the thruster system and keeping the ship running.
At this time, the problems of thruster failure and helium leakage continued one after another, and the nerves of the entire mission team were tense.
Initially, Boeing and NASA decided to postpone the return date for the time being, fixing the ship's malfunction first. However, the repair work did not go smoothly, and every time a problem was solved, new problems popped up.
The thruster malfunction was repaired, and the helium leaked again. Engineers have made emergency repairs time and time again, but they have never been able to solve the problem completely.
In the face of these ensuing technical failures, the two astronauts stranded in space were most affected.
Butch and Suni, two seasoned veteran astronauts with a wealth of experience in space missions, are anxious about such frequent breakdowns and the constant postponement of their return dates.
Every failure of the thruster may cause the spacecraft to lose power during the return journey, and even to burn, fall and other dangerous situations when entering the atmosphere.
The leakage of helium directly threatens the propulsion system of the spacecraft and affects the normal operation of the spacecraft. Butch and Suni must remain vigilant at all times and closely cooperate with the ground command center to carry out various emergency operations.
In the face of such a grim situation, Boeing and NASA have also taken a series of countermeasures.
First of all, they have sufficient supplies on the International Space Station to ensure the basic livelihood of the astronauts during their stay.
At the same time, engineers from NASA and Boeing worked day and night to overhaul the spacecraft's technology, hoping to solve the problem as soon as possible and allow the astronauts to return to Earth safely.
However, over time, the problem has not been completely solved, but has become more complex. Thrusters failed, helium leaked, and even spacesuits had problems.
Each new failure makes the astronauts' return date more distant.
