Stranded in space: risks and challenges for astronauts who cannot yet return to Earth

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“We want to get there and back as quickly as possible so they can turn our spacecraft around and learn the lessons from that and incorporate them into the next Starliner.“Wilmore told Time magazine weeks before the flight.

The mission was short but interesting: to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) and test whether the Starliner capsule, developed by Boeing, could function as a “space taxi” to transport astronauts. However, the craft began to have problems from the start, with helium leaks and multiple failures in the propulsion systems. NASA could not risk its astronauts and have them fly again in a capsule that could have more problems on return. Thus, the astronauts must remain on the ISS until a decision is made, which could come next week.

The first option – and the most likely option so far – is for Williams and Wilmore to stay until February, when they could return in the Dragon capsule of SpaceX, the aerospace company of billionaire Elon Musk. The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at the ISS in September, on a mission known as Crew-9, and would stay until February of next year. If this is the case, the mission would only fly with two astronauts – and not four, as planned – so that Williams and Wilmore can occupy the other two seats on their return trip to Earth.

If this option is chosen, the Starliner capsule would return to Earth without a crew, which would be a major image boost for Boeing, which is trying to develop its spacecraft more aggressively. SpaceX is currently winning the game.

The second option is for the astronauts to return on Starliner, hoping there are no mishap. Boeing has said the thruster issue would not prevent the safe return of Williams and Wilmore, but there is too much at stake.

The third option is for both to return on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, but NASA prefers not to play the geopolitical card, as that would mean, in the eyes of the world, that Moscow is throwing a lifeline to the United States.

Whatever NASA’s decision, many are concerned about the situation of the astronauts due to the uncertainty they are in and the risk to their health. However, the outlook is not so negative, according to Peruvian astrophysicist Carla Arce Tord, who told El Comercio. “The normal stay on the ISS is six months and both Williams and Wilmore would stay a couple of months longer than usual, which is not much, so the lives of the astronauts are not at risk,” she said, pointing out that as long as everything is under control and there are sufficient provisions, there is no danger. “They are trained and experienced astronauts, so there should not be any problem as long as they are on the International Space Station.”

Potential risks

However, orbiting the Earth for months on end is not exactly a beach vacation.

“An astronaut had a record stay of one year on the ISS, but the issue of health is important here, especially because they can be affected by osteoporosis,” Julio Valdivia, director of Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering at the University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC), told El Comercio.

“The inability of the muscle to cope with the effects of gravity leads to bone decalcification. It has been seen that people who return after three months already have serious effects of osteoporosis,” he adds.

Arce Tord also warns of the potential dangers for astronauts if they spend long and continuous periods in space. “They receive direct solar radiation, especially those who go on space walks, and also radiation from cosmic rays. Another issue is the conditions of microgravity, which can affect muscle development and bone conditions,” adds the astrophysicist. For this reason, they must do two hours of physical exercise every day.

“The other issue is mental health. That is why it is recommended that stays are not extended because being away from family and confined in a station orbiting the Earth can have a long-term impact on mental health,” says Arce Tord.

Food in space is also extremely important, which is why astronauts consume 2,800 calories a day.

What is it like to live in space?

While NASA is deliberating, astronauts are helping their fellow astronauts on the ISS with scientific research and maintenance work. But the stay is not easy, especially because the international station was designed to accommodate six or seven people, but now there are nine, so there are several logistical challenges, especially when it comes to sleeping.

Sunita Williams has had to squeeze in with another astronaut in a small sleep chamber called CASA in the Columbus module. Wilmore has a tougher time of it and sleeps in a sleeping bag tied to the wall in the Kibo module in the Japanese area of ​​the ISS.

While astronauts are trained to spend long periods in space, Wilmore and Williams — who are retired Navy captains and no strangers to extreme challenges — were on a short trip, so they didn’t bring extra clothing or even enough food. In fact, they wore the same clothes for two months (they can’t be washed in space and astronauts throw away clothes when they get too dirty), until the ISS recently sent up food and new gear.

The Boeing Problem

The launch of Wilmore and Williams marked the first crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule. According to NBC, the mission was designed to be a crucial final test before NASA could certify Boeing for regular flights to the ISS, something SpaceX achieved in 2020.

However, five of Starliner’s thrusters failed as the craft approached the space station, causing delays during the rendezvous and docking process. In fact, there were problems with ice leaks before the June launch, which caused delays in the flight date.

“These docking processes, although they are not frequent incidents, are expected risks,” explains Valdivia, who points out that repairing the capsule could be an option to consider, but this would take time. “They can fix it, but this also implies risk and more expense, because the astronaut has to leave the station to repair it, unless a team goes there for it, which has a very high cost,” he adds. “For safety reasons, it would be good if a single probe went there to rescue them.”

For Arce Tord, it is not unusual for these spacecraft to have technical problems. “These types of capsules, such as the Starliner that will transport astronauts, are increasingly complex and delicate. No matter how small the problem, the ideal is that the astronauts are 100% insured. If there is even a small percentage of probability that something will fail, it is better to cancel the mission,” he explains.

While NASA makes its decision, which must be the best for Williams and Wilmore, both take the opportunity to continue observing the Earth from a distance.