A Russian cargo spacecraft, Progress 89, successfully delivered vital supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, providing much-needed relief for the crew aboard. This mission is particularly significant as two NASA astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams, are currently stranded on the ISS due to ongoing safety concerns with the Boeing Starliner capsule, which was supposed to bring them back to Earth.
Progress 89, launched on August 14 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, docked at the ISS at 5:53 GMT. The spacecraft carried nearly three tons of essential supplies, including food, fuel, and other necessities, which are crucial for the Expedition 71 crew.
Wilmore and Williams originally arrived at the ISS in June for an eight-day test mission. However, issues with the Starliner’s propulsion system have made it unsafe for them to return as planned. NASA has extended their stay on the ISS indefinitely as they monitor the situation.
If Boeing cannot resolve the Starliner issues, NASA may bring the astronauts back to Earth using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, which could delay their return until February 2025.
Progress 89 will remain docked at the ISS for about six months, serving as a temporary storage unit before it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns up.
Also Read: “Eve,”: DNA-Collecting Robot Fish Revolutionizing Ocean Studies
This situation highlights the challenges space agencies face in ensuring the safety and reliability of crewed missions. The ongoing problems with the Starliner capsule have raised concerns within NASA and increased pressure on Boeing to fix the technical issues affecting the spacecraft.