Two astronauts who left Earth in June remain at International Space Station after issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule

Archived version: https://archive.ph/2Z8Bn

  • @nnullzz@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    683 months ago

    Damn. Going from 8 days to almost 8 months must be pretty shitty news for the astronauts. I get that it’s all defined as a test and these things can happen, but it’s not a good look for Boeing at all.

    • @drolex@sopuli.xyz
      link
      fedilink
      383 months ago

      Good thing for Boeing that their civil aviation branch is above suspicion, otherwise it would be very bad. But as long as they look very serious here, I’m sure they’ll continue to deserve all that public money for their big projects, which is obviously great for everyone! /s

      • @golli@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        21
        edit-2
        3 months ago

        I’m sure they’ll continue to deserve all that public money for their big projects, which is obviously great for everyone! /s

        Not sure how the current problems are handled, but the Starliner development was a fixed-cost rather than cost-plus contract for once. So at least Boeing ate massive losses on that one.

        • @unconfirmedsourcesDOTgov
          link
          63 months ago

          I wonder if the astronauts stuck on the ISS feel like it is Boeing that is the one taking the L here.

    • @Valmond@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      133 months ago

      If I was an astronaut, knowing that this is likely the only time I’ll be in space ever, I don’t think I’d be mad at staying longer.

      • I would be mad.

        I just don’t really think that the ISS is such a nice place to be.

        It would be absolutely amazing to be lucky enough to visit there for a few weeks.

        By that time though it would start to get old.

        It’s not exciting space exploration - it’s being stuck in a smelly can in zero-g.

    • Display name
      link
      fedilink
      33 months ago

      According to former astronauts, they’re probably happy. Maybe a bit down about not meeting family, but not unhappy about having to stay in space.

  • Boxscape
    link
    English
    333 months ago

    Does it all count as overtime? 😏

  • nat_turner_overdrive [he/him]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    173 months ago

    Boeing: It’s very important to remember they are absolutely not stranded, they could walk home whenever they want they’re just having too much fun on the leaky ISS and don’t want to.

    • @Zipitydew@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      53 months ago

      News from yesterday media isn’t talking about is NASA confirmed Starliner is likely fine to fly home. They did 3 hot fire simulations of a return mission. All thrusters passed. Even worked better than during approach. Meaning NASA’s theory about what Boeing fucked up seems to have been corrected.

      But the media wants clicks. Jumped straight to talking about worst case scenario of our around 5 possible options covered yesterday.

  • GenderIsOpSec [she/her]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    133 months ago

    maybe they should ask for help from a country that actually has functioning spacecraft?

    or boeing could stop killing their whistleblowers and actually try shrug-outta-hecks

  • RandomStickman
    link
    fedilink
    133 months ago

    Can you imagine if they broke the record for the longest stay on the ISS this way?

    • @Zron@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      63 months ago

      I mean, that would be terrible.

      Microgravity is horrible for the human body. Bones lose density, the heart enlarges, and all muscles atrophy. It takes months or years to recover from prolonged microgravity, they were supposed to be up there for like a week, where none of that is an issue.

      I’m sure if they really wanted to come down, nasa would put them on a different capsule and get them down, but then that just means 2 other people, who’ve been up there longer than them, have to stay in microgravity for even longer than they planned.

      • @Notyou@sopuli.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        43 months ago

        They have exercise equipment up there. They still lose bone and muscle density, but they work to keep from complete atrophy.

        Source: Tosh had an astronaut on his podcast recently.

  • kn0wmad1c
    link
    fedilink
    English
    63 months ago

    I’m curious, what’s the food and water situation like for these astronauts?

    • @Zipitydew@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      113 months ago

      They should be good. Cygnus capsule arrived on Tuesday. Was a regularly scheduled resupply. They are using supplies faster. But there is always safety stock.

      • kn0wmad1c
        link
        fedilink
        English
        43 months ago

        That’s great! Everyone was joking about the doors falling off of Starliner, but I still find it unbelievable that these poor people are actually stuck for 8 months.

        • @Zipitydew@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          63 months ago

          That option is the longest possible of around 5 NASA covered yesterday. So of course it’s the one the media is focusing on today.

          The update yesterday was over an hour long and had much better news.

  • Bloobish [comrade/them]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    53 months ago

    Jesus christ that can’t be healthy long term, doesn’t microgravity lead to losses in bone and muscle density?

    • Ech
      link
      fedilink
      English
      93 months ago

      The average stay on the iss is 6 months, with the longest being nearly a year. They know how to deal with the effects of these things, so it’s not going to be a huge problem.

      • Bloobish [comrade/them]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        33 months ago

        That’s good, so honestly it’s just trying to stay sane on what was originally a short week or so trip, here’s hoping they didn’t have any plans for the holidays.