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Preguntas frecuentes: Estado del retorno de la prueba de vuelo tripulado Boeing de la NASA


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Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)

Read the article in English here.

Los astronautas de la NASA Butch Wilmore y Suni Williams llegaron al laboratorio orbital el 6 de junio a bordo de la nave Boeing Starliner tras despegar el 5 de junio del Complejo de Lanzamiento Espacial-41 de la Estación Espacial de Cabo Cañaveral, en Florida.

Durante el vuelo de Starliner a la estación espacial, los ingenieros observaron que algunos de los propulsores de la nave no funcionaban como se esperaba y también se observaron varias fugas en el sistema de helio de Starliner. Desde entonces, los equipos de ingeniería de la NASA y Boeing han llevado a cabo varias pruebas de los propulsores, así como revisiones exhaustivas de los datos para comprender mejor la nave espacial. Mientras los ingenieros se esfuerzan por resolver los problemas técnicos antes del regreso del Starliner a la Tierra, el dúo de astronautas ha estado trabajando con la tripulación de la Expedición 71, realizando investigaciones científicas y actividades de mantenimiento.

La NASA tiene previsto llevar a cabo dos revisiones: una del junta de control del programa y una revisión del estado de preparación para el vuelo de la agencia, antes de decidir cómo regresará de manera segura a Wilmore y Williams de la. La NASA espera tomar una decisión sobre el curso a seguir a finales de agosto.

He aquí algunas preguntas frecuentes sobre su misión.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft that launched NASA's Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station is pictured docked to the Harmony module's forward port. This view is from a window on the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft docked to the port adjacent to the Starliner.

Sobre la misión y su retraso

¿Qué es la prueba de vuelo tripulado Boeing de la NASA?

La la prueba de vuelo tripulado Boeing de la NASA despegó el 5 de junio y es el primer vuelo con astronautas de la nave Starliner a la Estación Espacial Internacional. La prueba de vuelo tiene como objetivo demostrar que el sistema está preparado para misiones de rotación a la estación espacial. La NASA quiere que, además de las naves Soyuz de Roscosmos, haya dos naves estadounidenses capaces de transportar astronautas para garantizar una tripulación permanente a bordo del complejo orbital.

¿Cuáles son los objetivos de la prueba de vuelo tripulado?

Esta prueba de vuelo tiene por objeto demostrar la aptitud del Starliner para ejecutar una misión de rotación de seis meses a la estación espacial. Los objetivos de la prueba de vuelo se desarrollaron para respaldar el proceso de certificación de la NASA y recopilar los datos de rendimiento necesarios para evaluar la preparación antes de los vuelos de larga duración.

¿Por qué la prueba de vuelo tripulado permanecerá más tiempo del previsto a bordo de la estación espacial?

Durante el vuelo de Starliner a la estación espacial, algunos de los propulsores de la nave no funcionaron como se esperaba y se observaron varias fugas en el sistema de helio de Starliner. Aunque la duración inicial de la misión estaba prevista en torno a una semana, no hay prisa por traer de vuelta a casa a la tripulación, por lo que la NASA y Boeing se están tomando un tiempo extra para aprender sobre la nave espacial. Se trata de una lección aprendida del accidente del transbordador espacial Columbia. Nuestros equipos de la NASA y Boeing están estudiando minuciosamente los datos de las pruebas y análisis adicionales en el espacio y en tierra, proporcionando a los gestores de la misión datos para tomar la mejor y más segura decisión sobre cómo y cuándo traer de vuelta a casa a la tripulación.

Si se diera una emergencia en la estación espacial, ¿cómo volverían Butch y Suni a casa?

El Starliner sigue siendo la principal opción para Butch y Suni si se produjera una emergencia y tuvieran que abandonar rápidamente la estación. No existe una necesidad urgente de traerlos a casa, y la NASA está utilizando el tiempo extra para comprender los problemas técnicos de la nave espacial antes de decidir un plan de regreso.

¿Cuánto tiempo podrían permanecer Butch y Suni en la estación espacial si no regresan a bordo de Starliner?

Si la NASA decidiera devolver la nave Starliner sin tripulación, Butch y Suni permanecerían a bordo de la estación hasta finales de febrero de 2025. La NASA replanificaría la misión SpaceX Crew-9, enviando solo dos tripulantes en lugar de cuatro a finales de septiembre. Butch y Suni regresarían a la Tierra tras el incremento programado para Crew-9 a principios del próximo año.

¿Se quedarán Butch y Suni en el espacio hasta 2025?

No se ha tomado ninguna decisión. La NASA sigue evaluando todas las opciones a medida que aprende más sobre el sistema de propulsión de Starliner. Butch y Suni podrían regresar a bordo de Starliner, o podrían volver como parte de la misión SpaceX Crew-9 de la agencia a principios del año que viene.

¿Puede Starliner volar sin astronautas?

Sí, Starliner puede desacoplarse y abandonar la órbita de forma autónoma, si la NASA decide que la nave regrese sin tripulación.

¿Podría la NASA enviar una nave SpaceX Dragon para traer de vuelta a Butch y Suni?

If NASA decides to return them aboard a SpaceX Dragon, NASA will replan its SpaceX Crew-9 mission by launching only two crew members in late September instead of four. Butch and Suni would then return to Earth after the regularly scheduled Crew-9 increment early next year.

¿Por qué necesita la NASA dos sistemas de transporte de tripulación?

The main goal of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program is two, unique human spaceflight systems. Should any one system encounter an issue, NASA still has the capability to launch and return crew to ensure safety and a continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station.

NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore (at center) pose with Expedition 71 Flight Engineers (far left) Mike Barratt and Tracy C. Dyson (far right), both NASA astronauts, in their spacesuits aboard the International Space Station's Quest airlock.

Sobre los astronautas

¿Están Butch y Suni atrapados en la estación espacial?

No, Butch y Suni están a salvo a bordo de la estación espacial, trabajando junto a la tripulación de la Expedición 71. También han participado activamente en las pruebas y reuniones técnicas del Starliner. Butch y Suni podrían volver a casa a bordo de la nave Starliner en caso de emergencia. La agencia también dispone de otras opciones de regreso, en caso necesario, tanto para la planificación de contingencias como para el regreso en condiciones normales.

¿Están preparados Suni y Butch para una estancia más larga en la estación?

Butch y Suni ya han realizado dos estancias de larga duración a bordo de la estación. Los astronautas de la NASA se embarcan en misiones plenamente conscientes de los diversos escenarios que podrían materializarse. Esta misión no es diferente, y entendían las posibilidades e incógnitas de este vuelo de prueba, incluyendo la posibilidad de permanecer a bordo de la estación más tiempo del previsto.

¿Cuánto duraría una estancia prolongada de Butch y Suni en comparación con la duración de otras misiones en la estación espacial?

Una estancia típica a bordo de la Estación Espacial Internacional es de unos seis meses, y algunos astronautas de la NASA han permanecido en la estación espacial durante misiones de mayor duración. Las misiones anteriores han proporcionado a la NASA gran cantidad de datos sobre los vuelos espaciales de larga duración y sus efectos en el cuerpo humano, que la agencia aplica a cualquier misión con tripulación.

¿Tienen los astronautas todo lo que necesitan (por ejemplo, comida, ropa, oxígeno, artículos personales, etc.)?

Sí. La Estación Espacial Internacional está bien provista de todo lo que necesita la tripulación, incluidos alimentos, agua, ropa y oxígeno. Además, la NASA y sus socios de la estación espacial lanzan con frecuencia misiones de reabastecimiento al complejo orbital con suministros y carga adicionales.

Recientemente, llegaron a la estación una nave espacial Cygnus de Northrop Grumman que transportaba 3.720 kilogramos (8.200 libras) de alimentos, combustible, suministros y material científico, y una nave espacial de reabastecimiento Progress que transportaba 2.721 kilogramos (6.000 libras) de carga. La NASA tiene previstas misiones adicionales de SpaceX de reabastecimiento durante lo que queda de 2024.

¿Qué están haciendo a bordo de la estación espacial?

La tripulación sigue supervisando los sistemas de vuelo del Starliner y recopilando datos de rendimiento para la certificación de sistemas. La NASA también está aprovechando el tiempo extra de Butch y Suni a bordo del laboratorio orbital, donde han completado varios experimentos científicos, tareas de mantenimiento y han colaborado en los preparativos de las caminatas espaciales. Algunos de los experimentos científicos que han llevado a cabo recientemente incluyen nuevas formas de producir cables de fibra óptica y el cultivo de plantas a bordo del complejo orbital.

¿Pueden hablar con sus familiares y amigos?

Butch y Suni disfrutan de muchas de las comodidades que tenemos aquí en la Tierra. Pueden enviar correos electrónicos, llamar por teléfono y hacer videoconferencias con sus familiares y amigos cuando tienen tiempo libre a bordo de la Estación Espacial Internacional.

iss071e217183 (June 25, 2024) -- As the International Space Station orbited 263 miles above Earth, NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore captured this image of Spain and Morocco. The Strait of Gibraltar separates the two countries and connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.

Sobre el plan de regreso

¿Cuáles son las otras opciones para traer de vuelta a Butch y Suni?

La NASA dispone de dos sistemas estadounidenses de transporte espacial capaces de transportar tripulación a la estación y de vuelta. Aunque no se ha tomado ninguna decisión, la NASA está considerando varias opciones para hacer regresar a Butch y Suni de la estación espacial, incluido su retorno a bordo de la nave Starliner, si se autoriza, o como parte de la misión SpaceX Crew-9 de la agencia en febrero de 2025.

¿Es más seguro traerlos a casa a bordo de una nave Dragon de SpaceX?

Los vuelos de prueba tripulados son intrínsecamente arriesgados y, aunque las misiones de rotación puedan parecer rutinarias, tampoco están exentas de riesgos. Es competencia de la NASA evaluar ese riesgo antes de cada vuelo y determinar si es aceptable para la tripulación.

¿Qué otras medidas está tomando la NASA para traerlos a casa?

La NASA ajustó el lanzamiento de la Tripulación-9 de SpaceX y el regreso de la Tripulación-8 de la agencia, lo que permite más tiempo para finalizar los planes de regreso de Starliner. La NASA también está examinando las asignaciones de tripulación para garantizar que Butch y Suni puedan regresar con Crew-9 si fuera necesario.

Para consultar el blog de la NASA y obtener más información sobre la misión (en inglés), visita: https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

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