Experts Caution: Sunita Williams at Risk of Vaporization if Starliner Malfunctions on Return to Earth

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stranded in space for over two months (Image: AP/PTI)

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, two seasoned NASA astronauts, have found themselves in an unexpected and prolonged journey far from home. What began as an eight-day mission has stretched into over two months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), leaving them stranded in space. Their spacecraft, the Boeing Starliner, which they docked on June 5 for its much-anticipated inaugural test, encountered a critical malfunction. A fault in the capsule's thrusters has left the astronauts in a state of limbo, uncertain when they will finally return to Earth. Instead of a quick mission, Williams and Wilmore now face the daily challenge of navigating this unforeseen ordeal, thousands of miles above the planet, with no clear end in sight.

As the world watches and waits, NASA faces a harrowing decision: should they attempt to bring the astronauts home aboard the troubled Starliner, or should they launch a SpaceX rescue mission? The gravity of this decision is underscored by the potential dangers involved in using the faulty spacecraft.

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Rudy Ridolfi, a former commander of US military space systems, has outlined three grim scenarios that could unfold if the Starliner is used for reentry. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ridolfi explained the critical importance of the spacecraft’s alignment for a safe return to Earth. “As long as the capsule is correctly positioned for reentry, everything should be fine,” Ridolfi stated. However, he warned that if the angle is misaligned, the consequences could be catastrophic. "If the capsule isn't aligned properly, it could either burn up or bounce back into space," he added. A too-steep reentry could cause the heat shield to fail, potentially leading to disaster.

The first scenario described by Ridolfi involves the Starliner becoming stranded in space with its thrusters failing, leaving the astronauts with only 96 hours of oxygen. This situation might arise if the capsule attempts reentry at the wrong angle, causing it to ricochet off the atmosphere. The second possibility is the capsule bouncing off Earth's atmosphere entirely, should the service module fail to align correctly for reentry.

The most terrifying scenario, however, involves the astronauts being vaporised upon reentry. If the capsule enters at too steep an angle, the heat generated from increased friction could overwhelm the Starliner’s heat shield, resulting in the spacecraft burning up.

As NASA deliberates its next move, the world remains on edge, hoping for a safe resolution to this precarious situation.

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