Experts say that the United States is lacking a “go-get-em” capability for in-space rescue.
Image credit: Aerospace Corporation
All those eye-catching, arguably clickbait headlines of bringing home stranded astronauts stuck in space underscores a worrisome reality. The United States is lacking a “go-get-em” capability for in-space rescue.
The lessons of Apollo, Skylab and the space shuttle with respect to the rescue of astronauts in space appear to have been forgotten.
That memory lapse comes at a time when more folks are flying into space from multiple nations, many tucked inside commercially provided spacecraft.
Boeing Starliner attached to International Space Station. Came home empty.
Image credit: NASA
The recent Boeing Starliner escapade with conked out control thrusters and helium leaks is a case in point.
Mix in gutsy missions of private crews performing high-altitude spacewalks without a spaceship docking port or being the first to rocket into polar orbit around the Earth or heading off to the Moon.
For more details, go to my new Space.com story – “US needs ‘space rescue service’ to help astronauts in distress, experts say – ‘We’re not planning to do it, and you can’t do a rescue on the fly. You have to plan ahead of time’” at:
https://www.space.com/us-needs-space-rescue-service-astronauts-distress