Two astronauts who left Earth in June remain at International Space Station after issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule

Archived version: https://archive.ph/2Z8Bn

  • nnullzz@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Damn. Going from 8 days to almost 8 months must be pretty shitty news for the astronauts. I get that it’s all defined as a test and these things can happen, but it’s not a good look for Boeing at all.

    • drolex@sopuli.xyz
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      3 months ago

      Good thing for Boeing that their civil aviation branch is above suspicion, otherwise it would be very bad. But as long as they look very serious here, I’m sure they’ll continue to deserve all that public money for their big projects, which is obviously great for everyone! /s

      • golli@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        I’m sure they’ll continue to deserve all that public money for their big projects, which is obviously great for everyone! /s

        Not sure how the current problems are handled, but the Starliner development was a fixed-cost rather than cost-plus contract for once. So at least Boeing ate massive losses on that one.

    • Valmond@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      If I was an astronaut, knowing that this is likely the only time I’ll be in space ever, I don’t think I’d be mad at staying longer.

      • fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.de
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        3 months ago

        I would be mad.

        I just don’t really think that the ISS is such a nice place to be.

        It would be absolutely amazing to be lucky enough to visit there for a few weeks.

        By that time though it would start to get old.

        It’s not exciting space exploration - it’s being stuck in a smelly can in zero-g.

    • Display name@feddit.nu
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      3 months ago

      According to former astronauts, they’re probably happy. Maybe a bit down about not meeting family, but not unhappy about having to stay in space.

  • Cagi
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    3 months ago

    By the time they get back Boeing stock will be almost free.

    • Zron@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      I mean, that would be terrible.

      Microgravity is horrible for the human body. Bones lose density, the heart enlarges, and all muscles atrophy. It takes months or years to recover from prolonged microgravity, they were supposed to be up there for like a week, where none of that is an issue.

      I’m sure if they really wanted to come down, nasa would put them on a different capsule and get them down, but then that just means 2 other people, who’ve been up there longer than them, have to stay in microgravity for even longer than they planned.

      • Notyou@sopuli.xyz
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        3 months ago

        They have exercise equipment up there. They still lose bone and muscle density, but they work to keep from complete atrophy.

        Source: Tosh had an astronaut on his podcast recently.

    • Zipitydew@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      They should be good. Cygnus capsule arrived on Tuesday. Was a regularly scheduled resupply. They are using supplies faster. But there is always safety stock.

      • kn0wmad1c@programming.dev
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        3 months ago

        That’s great! Everyone was joking about the doors falling off of Starliner, but I still find it unbelievable that these poor people are actually stuck for 8 months.

        • Zipitydew@sh.itjust.works
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          3 months ago

          That option is the longest possible of around 5 NASA covered yesterday. So of course it’s the one the media is focusing on today.

          The update yesterday was over an hour long and had much better news.