Dear MEL Topic Readers,
What happens when astronauts get stuck in space
Two NASA astronauts, Wilmore and Williams, were sent to the
International Space Station (ISS) on June 6, 2024, as part of the first crewed
test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. They were originally planned to
return on June 14, but technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft prevented
a safe return. So far, the two astronauts’ missions have been extended until NASA
and Boeing resolve the problems or February next year when the SpaceX Crew
Dragon capsule brings them back. So, what is the life of the two astronauts whose
missions have been extended from about a week to months? Fortunately, there is
enough food, water, space, and daily tasks for the two experienced crew
members. And there are breathtaking views of the beautiful Earth from space. But
this is not the only case to stay in space unexpectedly. When a Soviet cosmonaut
left the USSR to stay at its space station Mir in May 1991, his mission
duration was supposed to be just a few months in orbit. However, the Soviet
Union collapsed four months later and he was stuck in the space station because
of the political chaos. He ended up staying there for nearly a year until he landed
in his new home Russia next year. Astronauts and cosmonauts, the Russian
version of astronauts, seem to be well-trained and highly disciplined to endure
extended missions.
Read the article and learn about how astronauts spend time in space.
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