June 5 was a huge day for the Boeing Company; their brand-new spacecraft, the “Starliner”, was to go on its first crewed flight to the International Space Station (ISS). With two excited test astronauts on board, the capsule took off, beginning its eight-day journey to space and back.
Despite detecting a helium leak in the spacecraft well before its departure, Boeing determined that the capsule was qualified to complete its crewed journey safely. Throughout their trip, issues persisted as the astronauts continued to report further helium leaks, as well as thruster failures.
Luckily, the two astronauts docked safely on the ISS. Little did they know, this eight-day journey would soon turn into a year-long stay with no determined return date. Unsurprisingly, the American public flooded Boeing and NASA with questions and concerns about the well-being of the pair stranded in space.
Unfortunately, the ISS crew could neither find nor fix the issue and were to stay put until further instructions. Soon enough, the craft was deemed unfit to return the astronauts safely to Earth and three months after docking they were waving away their spaceship as it began its unmanned descent back to Earth. Starliner successfully landed at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico on September 6, and Boeing began working to figure out what had gone wrong during its journey.
The physiological challenge
When interviewed, Jacqueline McCleary, an assistant physics professor at Northeastern University, lists the dangers and possible consequences of a long stay in space. McCleary mentions that astronauts can experience regular occurrences of motion sickness, dizziness, facial swelling, and digestive issues.
When staying in space for approximately a year, there have been cases of changes in gene regulation, gut microbiome, bone density, and more. Because the body no longer fights gravity, it begins to lose its strength and muscle function. Lastly, many astronauts attest to feeling extremely lonely and isolated.
In Space
Sunita “Suni” Williams (58) and Barry “Butch” Wilmore (61) are both naval officers and former test pilots who became NASA astronauts over 20 years ago. Williams has extensive experience as an astronaut; he has conducted a number of experiments in zero gravity and held several spacewalking records. Wilmore piloted the Spacecraft ‘Atlantis’ to the ISS where he participated in the first operations of humans creating a tool in outer space.
The two were assigned to test-fly the ‘Starliner’, as NASA prioritized having an alternative to the well performing Dragon spacecraft of SpaceX.
NASA integrated the two experienced astronauts into “Expedition 72” and created a full work program for their extended stay on the ISS.
Williams and Wilmore said during an interview, that they were sad to see their spacecraft leave without them, but that they would gladly use the additional time to work on research, maintenance, and data analysis - which they continue to do. The astronauts also described their daily routine; they spend every day exercising, socializing, and contributing to human space exploration and study.
The Calm After the Storm
Finally, after a few months, Boeing verified that their competitor, SpaceX, will send its “Dragon” spacecraft to the ISS with two crew members of “NASA Crew-9” and return together with the two Boeing astronauts in February 2025.
Safety of the astronauts is the first priority guiding the decision makers, and choosing the safest option is correct. In our squadron we followed the slogan “When in doubt there is no doubt”.
Silver Snoopy
For NASA, snoopy is an icon for safety, and the Silver Snoopy award is given personally by NASA astronauts to NASA employees and contractors for outstanding achievements related to human flight safety or mission success.
In recognition of Omega’s watchmaker contributions to space exploration including the Apollo 13 mission, Omega received the award from NASA astronauts in 1970. Therefore my daughter Shir offered me to wear on my spacesuit a special Omega timepiece which features the trajectory of the Apollo 13 mission with an animated Snoopy in his Command and Service Module.
Politics and competition aside, space is for all, and the mission to explore it is one we must continue to pursue and develop vigorously so that new, safer, and better ways to research space arise.
And, in the midst of it all, we will continue to encourage all of humanity to join the journey.
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