The US Space Agency is about to determine the return date of the astronauts stranded in space

The US Space Agency: Will decide the return time and method of the astronauts stranded in space by the end of August.

The US Space Agency will determine the return of the astronauts stranded in space by the end of August.

It is reported that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States claimed on August 14 local time that it will finalize the specific time and method for the two American astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who are trapped in space, to return to Earth by the end of August.

On June 6, these two astronauts arrived at the International Space Station aboard the Starliner spacecraft. They were originally scheduled to return to Earth on June 14. However, due to problems such as the spacecraft's thruster malfunction and helium leakage, the return time has been postponed repeatedly. This is the first manned test flight of the Starliner.

Currently, there are two possible return methods for these two astronauts. First, continue to ride on the Starliner spacecraft. NASA official Ken Bowersox said at a news conference on the 14th that experts are still ***yzing the thruster data of the Starliner. The space agency has had "very candid discussions" with Boeing, and Boeing is "100% confident" in the Starliner spacecraft, but there are still malfunctions in the spacecraft that have not been eliminated. Second, switch to the Dragon spacecraft of SpaceX. If it is determined to use the Dragon spacecraft to bring back the stranded astronauts, two difficulties need to be solved. First, the International Space Station has only two docking ports that are compatible with American spacecraft, and they have been occupied by the Starliner and the Cygnus cargo spacecraft that delivers supplies to the space station respectively. So the Starliner needs to leave the space station before the Dragon spacecraft arrives. Second, the space agency needs to reduce the number of four astronauts on the next manned launch mission of the Dragon spacecraft to two, thus making room for the return of the stranded astronauts.

This decision by NASA is of crucial importance. The families of the astronauts and space enthusiasts around the world are eagerly awaiting the final result, hoping that the astronauts can return safely and smoothly. This incident once again shows the difficulty and complexity of space exploration missions and the severe challenges faced in ensuring the safety of astronauts and the success of the mission.