Page 42 - final Nai Udaan september 2024

Boeing Starliner astronauts will spend at least
240 days stuck in space — is that a new record?

NASA has announced that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will return
from the International Space Station (ISS) no earlier than February 2025, extending their
stay by at least eight months. The return flight will use a SpaceX vehicle instead of the
troubled Boeing Starliner spacecraft. If the return happens in early February, the crew
will have spent a minimum of 240 consecutive days in space since the launch in June
2024. The duration could increase to nearly 270 days if the departure occurs in March.
While eight months is longer than the average six-month stay on the ISS, it is not a new
record, as missions can be extended for various reasons.

Sources:

Why Isro sending Indian
astronaut to Space Station 1-https://www.finan-
cialexpress.com/in-
is critical for Gaganyaan dia-news/water-stor- 5-https://www.live-
age-levels-across-coun
trys-major-reservoirs-i science.com/space/sp
Axiom Space aims to build the world's mproved-significantly ace-exploration/boe-
first commercial space station. The Ax-4 -says-cwc-report/3590 ing-starliner-astronaut
s-will-spend-at-least-2
872/
mission will be commanded by Peggy 40-days-in-space-is-th
Whitson from the United States, with 2-https://www.scien- at-a-new-record
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from cenews.org/arti -
India serving as the pilot. The mission cle/long-awaited-can- 6-https://www.india-
specialists include representatives from cer-treatment#:~:text= today.in/science/ga-
ganyaan-mission/sto-
Now%20with%20TIL
Poland and Hungary. This mission is %20therapy%2C%20s ry/why-isro-sending-
crucial for India's space program as it olid,the%20immune% indian-astronaut-to-sp
provides Indian astronauts with training 20system%20fights%2 ace-station-is-critical-fo
and first-hand experience in the operational 0cancer. r-gaganyaan-2585865-2
environment of the International Space 3-https://www.sci- 024-08-27
Station (ISS). The collaboration with encedaily.com/releas- 7-https://www.india-
SpaceX and NASA enhances India's es/2024/08/24082613 today.in/environ-
capabilities in mission planning, execution, and 1303.htm ment/sto -
emergency preparedness for the future ry/un-chiefs-sos-for-p
Gaganyaan mission. The article highlights 4-https://www.sci- acific-paradise-the-sea
encedaily.com/releas-
s-are-getting-hot-2588
the importance of gaining knowledge and es/2024/08/24082613 513-2024-08-27
experience in spacecraft operations, 1219.htm
microgravity conditions, and managing
space missions. This mission strengthens Bhumika
Sunil Kumar
ties with international space agencies and Mahato
paves the way for India to advance human TGT Science
space exploration. GGSSS , Hastsal

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