Updates on those stranded astronauts

[Ragnar0711]

 

[Debi]

So they say...lol

MSN

 

[Ragnar0711]

Imo, sounded like cross over from another source and sounded like sonar
The invasion has begun

 

[Lynne]

In a mysterious and unsettling event, NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore reported hearing strange, sonar-like noises inside Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, currently docked at the International Space Station. The eerie audio, captured in this recording, puzzled both the astronauts aboard and Mission Control in Houston. As Starliner prepares to return to Earth autonomously, these unexplained sounds raise questions about the spacecraft's condition and the challenges faced by Boeing and NASA during this mission.Listen closely to the audio as Wilmore holds the microphone up to the speaker, capturing the distinct pinging noise. While such oddities are not entirely unheard of in space, this incident adds to the intrigue surrounding Starliner's journey. The spacecraft, which has already encountered several technical issues, will fly back to Earth without its crew on September 6, with Wilmore and Suni Williams set to return aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft in February.

Why is the starliner going back unmanned, can't they ride along?

 

[Lynne]

Does anyone know how much room they have to live in up there? Are they squeezed into a small space all this time? How do they eat and go to the bathroom?

 

[garnetsilver]

Does anyone know how much room they have to live in up there? Are they squeezed into a small space all this time? How do they eat and go to the bathroom?

Or maybe they use adult diapers?

 

[Debi]

Why is the starliner going back unmanned, can't they ride along?

The Starliner has leaking seals on the thrusters. They lost 5 of 28 when they were incoming. Too dangerous to take a chance of more leaking fuel and things going boom. The thrusters are needed to make course corrections on the way home as well.

 

[Debi]

The astronauts sleep in small sleeping compartments by using sleeping bags. They strap their bodies loosely so that their bodies will not float around. In the zero-gravity world, there are no "ups" or "downs". The astronauts can sleep anywhere facing any direction. Sleeping area is about the size of a small shower stall per person.

There are three toilets on the International Space Station, located in the Zvezda, Nauka and Tranquility modules.

The Maximum Absorbency Garment (MAG) is the astronaut diaper. Astronauts wear a MAG during launch, landing, and spacewalks – whenever they can't remove their spacesuits for long stretches of time. Like any diaper, the MAG absorbs liquid and pulls it away from the skin.

 

[Debi]

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will attempt to return to Earth without a crew on Friday

The beleaguered capsule is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station without any astronauts onboard — the final phase of a monthslong saga.

www.nbcnews.com

Excerpt:
Starliner is scheduled to depart the space station on Friday at around 6:04 p.m. ET, then touch down in New Mexico at 12:03 a.m. ET.

The undocking process will be slightly different than it would be with astronauts onboard, with the capsule moving up and away from the space station more quickly, according to Anthony Vareha, lead flight director for the Starliner’s undocking and return at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The changes were made largely to protect the space station in case something goes wrong, and because astronauts will not be onboard to take manual control of the spacecraft, if necessary.

_________​

Note: At one point while incoming, the astronauts lost auto pilot due to the thruster failure and had to take over to dock. The concern here is if thrusters fail as it undocks from the ISS and starts to spin that the capsule be far enough away that it cannot harm the station.

 

[K9-1]

It's like Gilligan's Island only alot less fun imo!
I love a good risk and will go anywhere on this planet, but I draw the line at going to space! I doubt anyone has enough money to get me into a submarine either!