NASA Astronauts Prepared for Emergency Evacuation from ISS
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are scheduled to return to Earth in February 2025. However, NASA has also prepared for the possibility of an emergency evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS) before then.
During a press conference, NASA commercial crew manager Steve Stitch discussed the agency's emergency plan and the training provided to the astronauts. He explained that temporary seats have been installed in the cargo area of the Crew Dragon spacecraft for Williams and Wilmore. These seats, built using materials from the ISS, allow the astronauts to sit with their knees bent and feet in a proper position, similar to the crew seating during launch on Starliner or Dragon spacecraft. The seats also have straps for securing the astronauts in case of an emergency evacuation.
"While we don't expect to use them, they are available for extreme contingencies," Stitch emphasized.
NASA has also tested airflow in the cargo area to ensure proper ventilation and the crew has practiced hand signals for communication. Additionally, the agency has analyzed the landing and parachute events to ensure the loads on the astronauts' bodies in these seats are within acceptable limits.
Dana Weigel, NASA's International Space Station Program Manager, provided an update on the astronauts' activities during their stay on the ISS. They have participated in over 42 experiments and logged over 100 hours combined assisting with science and research.
"In terms of daily routines, they're following the standard exercise regimen, which includes both cardiovascular work and resistance training, just like all crew members," Weigel said. "So, both the science work and exercise routines have gradually shifted, and they're pretty well integrated with the expedition crew."
How to Watch the Boeing Starliner Return to Earth LIVE
The Boeing Starliner is scheduled to undock from the ISS at 3:30 am IST on September 7 and will land in New Mexico about six hours later. To watch the livestream of the departure of Starliner from the ISS, you can tune in to NASA+, the NASA app, the official YouTube channel, and the official website of NASA. You can also access the livestream through the embedded link below.