To add some context: the astronauts are not "stranded" in space. They are in the international space station. They were supposed to get back on this capsule after a few days stay, but they are now expected to stay in the ISS and get back only in February on SpaceX capsule/vehicle.
Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them
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Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
That is the definition of being stranded. They wouldn't have stayed back if they could have gone with the vehicle.
Nobody is stranded. At no time does NASA not have a plan to evacuate the space station if there's an emergency. There's currently 7 people aboard and 5 space craft docked, all of which can carry multiple people, all of which can be used to get people off the station.
In an emergency, can they really prep and launch a rocket quickly? Are we talking hours/days/week/months?
Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
AFAIK Crew Dragon Endeavour has been retrofitted with six seats and could (suboptimally?) evacuate the six astronauts on the ISS.
"Seats" is a bit generous. They'd be strapped to the cargo palettes behind the seats, without flight suits. Definitely sub-optimal.
On United, that's called "Premium Economy".
Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them
#24Wow, imagine seeing this news but about Mars or the moon…
Boeing is never going to either
Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
Nobody is stranded. At no time does NASA not have a plan to evacuate the space station if there's an emergency. There's currently 7 people aboard and 5 space craft docked, all of which can carry multiple people, all of which can be used to get people off the station.
In an emergency, can they really prep and launch a rocket quickly? Are we talking hours/days/week/months?
There is no emergency that would require launching a rocket. They have craft docked to the space station at all times that they can return to Earth on at a moment’s notice.
Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them
#26To add some context: the astronauts are not "stranded" in space. They are in the international space station. They were supposed to get back on this capsule after a few days stay, but they are now expected to stay in the ISS and get back only in February on SpaceX capsule/vehicle.
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Stranded: Left without the means to move from somewhere.
If you are stranded on an island, it implies you have no means of return. They have a means, to return on the same capsule. They also could return on another capsule. NASA decided to not take the risk, as there are other less risky options available.
If there were no other options, NASA would send the back on Starliner, and it would still likely be much safer than something like the space shuttle
Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
That is the definition of being stranded. They wouldn't have stayed back if they could have gone with the vehicle.
Nobody is stranded. At no time does NASA not have a plan to evacuate the space station if there's an emergency. There's currently 7 people aboard and 5 space craft docked, all of which can carry multiple people, all of which can be used to get people off the station.
You’re describing a plan for how to deal with stranded astronauts. If I’m on a road trip and my car breaks down at a gas station, I’m stranded. Even if there are other people and other cars at the gas station, and even if I still have access to emergency services, and even if I have a plan for how to deal with being stranded at a gas station.
Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them
#28Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them
#29I'm wondering whether the astronauts in this situation are excited about getting an extended stay in space without the usual competition for launch opportunities, or are unhappy about it (due to the long separation from family, health effects, the lack of comfort that comes with living on the frontier of what humanity can currently reach, etc.). This quote: > “They understand the importance now of moving on and... ge…
Last time I read about this, the astronauts absolutely love being in space and will be happy about it. Heck even I would be happy, this is a one in a million experience!
Re: Stranded astronauts' capsule heads home without them
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
AFAIK Crew Dragon Endeavour has been retrofitted with six seats and could (suboptimally?) evacuate the six astronauts on the ISS.
"Seats" is a bit generous. They'd be strapped to the cargo palettes behind the seats, without flight suits. Definitely sub-optimal.
I thought they found one flight suit. Can they not use it in the cargo area?