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cover of episode Why were NASA astronauts ‘stuck’ in space?

Why were NASA astronauts ‘stuck’ in space?

2025/3/19
logo of podcast What in the World

What in the World
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Hannah Gelbart
L
Libby Jackson
R
Rebecca Murrell
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Hannah Gelbart: 我主持了这个BBC世界服务播客节目，报道了NASA宇航员Suni Williams和Butch Wilmore的太空任务因技术问题而延长九个月的故事。他们的Starliner飞船在发射后出现技术问题，导致他们不得不等待SpaceX的下一班航班返回地球。 Rebecca Murrell: 我是BBC的科学编辑，我解释了这次任务中出现的问题。Starliner飞船在前往国际空间站的途中出现氦泄漏和推进器故障等技术问题。NASA认为该飞船不安全，因此决定让宇航员搭乘SpaceX的下一班航班返回地球，这导致他们的任务延长了九个月。虽然被称为‘滞留’宇航员，但他们始终有返回地球的途径，因为国际空间站始终有其他飞船对接，可以作为紧急情况下的‘救生艇’。NASA权衡各种方案后，决定让宇航员搭乘SpaceX的定期航班返回地球，虽然这导致他们在空间站停留的时间大大延长。 在国际空间站期间，宇航员们的生活很充实，他们参与了各种实验和太空行走，其中包括一起进行了一次太空行走，对空间站外部进行微生物样本采集。从太空看地球，可以获得对地球和人类冲突的不同视角。太空中的景色非常壮观，包括日出日落和北极光。太空生活也有一些不舒适的方面，例如食物和厕所。虽然可以进行专门的救援任务，但这并不会节省太多时间，而且成本很高。 长时间的太空生活会对宇航员的身体造成影响，例如肌肉萎缩和骨质疏松。宇航员在国际空间站会进行大量的运动来对抗失重环境的影响。返回地球的过程非常危险，宇航员需要承受高温和巨大的加速度。宇航员需要具备冷静、沉稳和冒险精神的品质。 Libby Jackson: 我是英国太空探索专家。长时间的太空生活会使宇航员的骨骼和肌肉变弱，需要大约一年的时间才能恢复。

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NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore's mission to the International Space Station was extended from 8 days to 9 months due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The spacecraft experienced helium leaks and thruster problems, deemed unsafe for their return. NASA opted to integrate them into the next SpaceX flight, resulting in the prolonged stay.
  • Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned due to helium leaks and thruster problems.
  • NASA deemed the Starliner unsafe for astronaut return.
  • Astronauts were integrated into the next SpaceX mission, extending their stay to nine months.
  • A dedicated rescue mission was considered but deemed too expensive and time-consuming.

Shownotes Transcript

Imagine going on a work or school trip for eight days, but ending up away from home for nine months. Now, imagine that journey was to space. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore’s spacecraft launched in June last year from Cape Canaveral in Florida. They were taking part in the first crewed test flight of the Starliner spacecraft, developed by Boeing. But there were some technical problems after launch and NASA decided it was too risky to use it to take the astronauts back to Earth. Instead, Suni and Butch would catch the next scheduled flight home, which ended up being nine months later.

And now Suni and Butch have splashed down off the coast of Florida in a different spacecraft.

Our Science Editor, Rebecca Morelle, explains what went wrong with the mission, if they were really stranded, and what daily life is actually like in space.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Elena Angelides Editor: Verity Wilde