Elon Musk publicly accused the Biden administration of politically motivated delays in returning astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from the International Space Station, a claim refuted by NASA. NASA clarified that the astronauts’ return, initially delayed for technical reasons, is part of a planned crew rotation, with their departure scheduled for late March. Former astronauts and NASA itself contradicted Musk’s assertions, emphasizing the astronauts’ safety and the planned nature of their extended stay. The controversy unfolded amidst Musk’s increasingly prominent role as a Trump advisor and his history of disseminating misleading information.
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Two US astronauts are supposedly stranded in space on board Boeing’s Starliner capsule – or so the headlines would have you believe. However, upon closer inspection, it seems that this is not entirely accurate. The astronauts are, in fact, docked at the International Space Station (ISS) and are not aimlessly floating in space. They are safe and not in any immediate danger.
The issue at hand seems to be related to a malfunction in a part of the spacecraft that does not return to Earth with them. While there are concerns about the repairs needed to bring the Starliner back up to 100%, NASA and Boeing have emphasized that this problem does not present a concern for their return mission.… Continue reading
As a space enthusiast, the recent news of Boeing calling off a historic mission carrying two astronauts just minutes before liftoff was certainly disappointing. However, after learning about the intricate details of what triggered the scrub, I can’t help but appreciate the prioritization of safety in such high-stakes missions.
The fact that Boeing didn’t call off the launch, but rather the launch computer did, showcases a commitment to following safety protocols and ensuring that all systems are functioning optimally before allowing astronauts to embark on such a monumental journey. The intricacy of the launch control system, with redundant computers and stringent checks in place, underscores the gravity of the situation and the need to err on the side of caution.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker