Astronauts stranded in space: Expert weighs in on potential consequences for Boeing’s reputation

Two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, are stranded at the International Space Station after arriving on Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft in early June. They were meant to stay for about a week, but their return to Earth has been repeatedly delayed due to technical issues. NASA said it is exploring options, including using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon to bring them home in early 2025.

Professor David Barnhart, director of the University of Southern California’s Space Engineering Research Center, tells CNA’s Asia First what a prolonged stay could do to the astronauts’ wellbeing. He also shares his thoughts on the potential repercussions for Boeing’s reputation and its commercial spaceflight programme.

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[PVLTD]

NASA just won the “Value-For-Money space tour of the year” award. Traveler only need to pay for 8-day trip and be awarded for 8-months stay in space. Room is included but foods and Oxygen may not be included, depending on availability onboard of space hotel.

[Voxabonable]

Man has been prepped by PR so much he can talk till Sunday and still hasn't said shxt.

[michaelbyrnee]

(Professor Barnhart: character in the original "Day The Earth Stood Still".) Sorry to break this to you "professor": NASA does NOT put astronaut safety first - especially when it knows there is a problem. Did you forget about frozen O-rings and foam-impacted shuttle wing damage??? I fully expected him to say: "The two astronauts are absolutely delighted to risk their lives - against even odds - riding that broken capsule back to earth". The time for NASA and Boeing to "really dive into" the problem was BEFORE humans were launched in that unfortunate vehicle. I think the professor is less a director, and more of a PR point spokesman: he sure knows how to spin!

[btrueday]

Spin spin spin Did Nasa plan for the astronauts to wear the same underwear for 6 months?

[aspiringfalcons]

CNA wasting time doing this propaganda

[ssss]

More embarrassing American excuses while the two astronauts are dying up there.

[happymelon]

This is what happens when a cooperate is run by a bunch of lawyers & demagogues.
Same in the congre$$

[lonewolf]

Why didn't NASA ask the Chinese for help? 🤨

[handsandwiches]

Elon musk Will pick them up on his way back from his 2025 visit to mars 😂

[yu-jdjg]

The potential danger is the 2 tourist astronauts were not trained to stay for a prolonged period in space

[GASIA-cwiw]

No face to ask Chinese to help.
Ha ha ha!

[johnv]

Nobody has any idea why all Boeing products are failing. The "smartest" engineers in the world agree It's a mystery... unexplainable

[winsee]

A simple solution for you. Just beg China for help

[rapauli]

No, it is a plot of a banal comedy like Guilligan's Island -- on TV in the 60s and 70s - and a cartoon version even included a Guilligan trip to outer space.

[debratyrrell]

What a place to be stranded can't call a cab or nothing!

[stevey]

It’s NOT any movie but a Hollywood style BULLSHIT! Such so called “face saving” act is loosing much appeal! Clearly showed - can’t do things especially such space endeavors alone!

[BarbaraBalemans]

All those wealthy people should help bring our brave astronauts back home

[jpd]

Lord, please help these people return to earth safe and sound back to their families. Thank you my love, my Lord, my saviour, for hearing my prayers. Amen.

[elizeleroux]

maybe you not going to hear exactly what you need to hear, they will obviously try work out a plan, he could maybe not have said anything that would come back to him with guilt, so he did not explain the truth, but spoke in ways to protect the space missions

[wkjeeping]

Spacex would just add 2 more seats. Dragon was designed for 8 people. So NASA is only utilization half the capsule.