The Slow Newscast Stuck in space
Dec 3, 2024
In June 2024, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore faced an unexpected eight-month journey in space due to technical failures. The podcast dives into their personal struggles amid the backdrop of Boeing and NASA's challenges. Listeners hear gripping stories from the Columbia disaster and the evolving dynamics between SpaceX and Boeing. The emotional toll of isolation and the risks of future lunar missions are explored, revealing the psychological complexities of space travel and the resilience required to navigate these extraordinary circumstances.
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Stuck in Space
- Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore launched aboard the Boeing Starliner in June 2024 for an eight-day mission.
- Six months later, they remain stuck on the International Space Station due to Starliner issues, facing an eight-month stay.
Systemic Failures
- The astronauts' extended stay reveals systemic issues within NASA and Boeing.
- These failures harken back to past tragedies, impacting their current spaceflight capabilities and competitiveness.
Early Starliner Failures
- The Starliner's first uncrewed test flight in 2019 failed due to a faulty clock, causing it to miss the ISS.
- Subsequent tests in 2021 and 2022 continued to reveal problems, delaying the crewed mission.