NASA Astronauts Stuck In Space Due To Boeing Aircraft Problems, Facing High Radiation Exposure

Two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, are facing serious health risks (photo: x @nasa)

JAKARTA - Two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, are facing serious health risks after being trapped on the International Space Station (ISS) for three months due to technical problems on Boeing Starliner aircraft.

The plane that was supposed to bring them back to Earth experienced a series of technical failures, including a helium leak and a five-out of its 18 booster failures. As a result, NASA decided to postpone their return until February 2025 at the earliest, when the SpaceX Crew Dragon mission was scheduled to bring them back.

The exposure of radiation in space is one of the biggest threats to astronauts. According to NASA, over three months on the ISS, Williams and Wilmore have been exposed to radiation ranging from 40 to 80 milliseconds (mSv), which is equivalent to 120 to 240 X-ray chests. With an extension of their stay to eight months, exposure to radiation can increase to 310 to 630 X-ray chests. This amount is very dangerous, because radiation in space can damage cell DNA, which is at risk of causing cancer, cardiovascular disease, as well as damage to the central nervous system.

"Space is a very unfriendly place for human life. No air can be inhaled, microgravity erodes bone and muscle, and radiation exposure is high in the form of high-energy particles," said Martin Archer, a space plasma physicist.

NASA studies show that astronauts who spend six months on the ISS are usually exposed between 80 and 160 mSv of radiation. The ISS has a shield designed to reduce radiation exposure, but astronauts are still exposed to 365 times greater radiation than those on Earth.

This radiation not only increases long-term risks such as cancer, but can also cause acute radiation syndrome if large amounts of exposure occurs in a short time. Although no astronaut has died from this syndrome, the risk remains, especially in the event of a solar flare, which is a spike in high energy radiation from the solar surface.

NASA has warned that solar flares and galactic cosmic rays, which are high energy particles from outside the solar system, could worsen the radiation exposure experienced by astronauts. Although the ISS is in low Earth orbit and has partial protection from Earth's magnetic field, astronauts still pass through high radiation areas during its orbital movement.

"Earth magnetic media or magnetospheres do help protect us from most of the space radiation, but those in space, including on the ISS, continue to receive greater radiation exposure," Archer explained.

Starliner's problems do not only occur while in orbit. Prior to launch, the plane had experienced several delays due to technical problems, including a helium leak which was ultimately deemed not serious enough to delay further launches. However, upon arrival at the ISS, new problems arose with further helium leaks and engine failures.

NASA and Boeing finally decided that it was too risky to bring astronauts back to Earth using Starliners. Therefore, they will wait until the SpaceX Crew Dragon arrives to pick them up, with launches scheduled not earlier than September 24, 2024.

Although astronauts on the ISS are not exposed to large enough radiation to cause immediate fatal damage, this long-term exposure remains a major concern. Radiative exposure can lead to DNA mutations, which have the potential to cause cancer. In addition, radiation can also damage cardiovascular systems by hardening arteries and damaging cells in blood vessels, as well as affecting the brain by inhibiting neurogenesis, the process of forming new brain cells, which can lead to cognitive decline and memory problems.

With the sun currently at the peak of its 11-year cycle, or known as the maximum diesel, the risk of radiation spikes due to solar flares is increasing. The solar flare can produce radiation waves that can penetrate Earth's magnetic field and the ISS, which adds to the risk for astronauts in space.

This radiation exposure adds to the list of risks astronauts must face, who already have to struggle against the effects of microgravity that can cause bone loss and muscle mass loss. NASA and the medical team continue to monitor Williams and Wilmore' health conditions, but the long-term health risks due to this radiation cannot be ignored.

However, NASA astronauts continue to carry out their mission on the ISS with high dedication, while waiting for their return safely to Earth.