Boeing astronauts not ‘stuck’ in space: Former space shuttle pilot

(NewsNation) — The 2 Boeing Starliner astronauts are successful the 37th time of what was expected to beryllium 8 days successful orbit astatine the International Space Station. But 1 erstwhile astronaut says it’s incorrect to accidental they’re “stuck” successful orbit. That’s due to the fact that abstraction is the lone spot to fig retired what went incorrect connected the Starliner work module.

“Anything they’re going to larn astir it has to beryllium learned portion it’s successful abstraction attached to the abstraction station,” said erstwhile abstraction shuttle aviator Terry Virts.

He told “NewsNation Now” that Boeing wants to larn each it tin astir the helium leaks and thruster failures connected the work module, but the module volition pain up erstwhile it hits the Earth’s atmosphere.

“The existent word to deliberation astir present is ‘certification,’” said Virts. “This is simply a trial mission, but Boeing wants it certified – benignant of similar passing your last exams. You can’t postgraduate and spell to assemblage until you walk your last exams. So, this is benignant of a last exam.”

Boeing has said that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams could usage the Starliner to instrumentality to Earth instantly if the concern demands it, but that’s not the case. And Virts agrees.

“Every capsule that we’ve ever flown has problems. There’s ever thing that leaks oregon breaks, oregon a machine fails, oregon the electrical things abbreviated out. So, I don’t deliberation this is simply a failure.”

Virts says Wilmore and Williams are nary uncertainty enjoying their bonus clip successful orbit, arsenic helium did erstwhile his instrumentality to Earth was delayed.

“For maine it was: ’I’m successful space. I’m going to bask this time.’ I americium definite that the abstraction presumption astronauts are much than blessed to person the Boeing astronauts determination to bash other work,” helium said.

“The abstraction presumption has a batch of food. There’s a batch of oxygen. There’s a batch of water. So, I’m sure, successful the abbreviated term, (supplies are) not a problem.”

When it is clip to travel home, Virts says it won’t beryllium the agelong glide onto a runway similar erstwhile helium was piloting a abstraction shuttle, but much similar the thrust helium took connected a Russian Soyuz capsule.

“That was much similar riding a bowling ball,” helium said. “There was a elephantine fireball. The G-levels were overmuch higher. Landing connected the crushed is benignant of similar driving into a telephone pole. My assemblage was each bruised. It’s an breathtaking ride.”