Reasons Why NASA Doesn’t Know When The SpaceX Astronauts Will Return Home

For some of us, the thought of going to space is fascinating, and for others, just downright scary. Now imagine leaving Earth during such an uneasy time and not knowing exactly when you’ll return! NASA astronauts were in that exact boat (or should I say, spaceship) this past Sunday night as they began their mission to reach the International Space Station aboard NASA’S SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Rocket. While this mission will hopefully expand our knowledge of space, there are plenty of unknowns the bold astronauts are bound to face. 

The rocket, Crew Dragon, was designed to pilot itself, but could be taken over by manual control if necessary. Hopkins, Glover, Walker, and Noguchi’s impressive resumes make them the perfect astronauts for this groundbreaking exhibition. Noguchi is a part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and has partnered with NASA astronauts to complete this mission. These highly skilled individuals will be able to tackle any issues they encounter on their journey. 

NASA estimates they will be in space for around 6 months. We know we’re not the only ones who think that’s a pretty long time to be away. Especially, a long time without a gourmet meal, the ability to stream your favorite TV show, or a real shower...

Although spacecrafts are top notch devices that have been tested over and over again, NASA managers note that there are tons of unknown factors that could affect the mission’s return to Earth. 

1. Weather 

The ideal return weather NASA and SpaceX desire for the ideal return of their astronauts would be a 75-and-sunny day. For this reason, weather above the Atlantic Ocean will dictate when the astronauts can return. The aircraft will be arriving in a splashdown zone once it has detached from its trunk and expanded its parachutes. The weather will be an important factor in determining when it’s safe to land (no one wants to land a spacecraft during a tropical storm.) 

2. Solar energy

The aircraft’s solar panels are expected to decay over time. The chosen astronauts are equipped to check the solar panels periodically and determine how much time they have left to maintain enough energy to safely return into Earth’s atmosphere. 

3. Anything could go wrong. 

Sending astronauts to space is, unfortunately, not without its risks. Thankfully, the takeoff and landing were a success. Now, we just have to hope nothing drastic happens while the astronauts are in orbit. If so, just about any unanticipated issue could cause them to end their exhibition early and return to Earth.