What's the problem rescuing stranded astronauts? Spacesuits of Boeing and SpaceX aren't compatible

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are two NASA astronauts who have been stuck at the International Space Station since early June. NASA is contemplating all the jeopardies and risks associated with their return to Earth. Due to complications with the Boeing Company’s Starliner, their spacecraft, the space agency had to come up with several contingencies.

The NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, reached the International Space Station three months and 75 days ago. But due to some complications with the Boeing Starliner’s capsule, they have had to delay their return to Earth for what seems like an indefinite period, paralyzing them into the orbital laboratory for more than eight days. Moreover, it can be quite anticipated that the two are stranded, in any way one would wish to use the term, except in the mouth of NASA.

Officials from Boeing are equally defensive about Starliner, which has already caused a multibillion-dollar budget hole for both the company and NASA. They have been adamant that Starliner could return the two at any time. The spacesuits worn by Starliner and those on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft are incompatible. As NASA confirmed in a teleconference call last week, this means that if the two were to return to the SpaceX capsule that is currently docked to the station—one rescue plan that NASA is considering—they would be flying without suits. This is an unfortunate reality for NASA and will probably influence its decision going forward.


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The very structure of NASA’s Commercial Crew program that offered the funding for SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft explains why SpaceX and Boeing suits are incompatible. A recent explainer video from YouTube channel Ad Astra featured Swapna Krishna explaining that for every era of spaceflight before this current one, NASA used a different model of procuring spaceships, adding that NASA used to be deeply involved throughout the entire process.

NASA stated that with Commercial Crew, the companies may design and innovate as long as the companies met NASA's broad requirements and safety standards, as well as reach specific milestones, one of which is a successful crewed test flight. Boeing and SpaceX have different design approaches for their capsules, making it difficult to swap them. The capsule is only designed for four passengers, limiting the suit space. NASA has an alternative option: SpaceX's Crew-9 mission, which could launch with two crew members, allowing Williams and Wilmore to return in February. However, ditching Boeing's Starliner would be a major vote of no confidence, as it would have been a significant investment.

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FAQs

Why are Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams stranded in space?
The Starliner spacecraft, owned by Boeing, is having technical issues because of which the two NASA astronauts are unable to return to earth.

What alternatives does NASA have for saving them?
Because of spacesuit incompatibilities and capacity constraints, NASA is thinking about utilizing SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft as a backup. However, this would require modifications and time.