March 21, 2025 JOIN TELEGRAM CHANNEL: ENGLISH MADHYAM

Safe from space: On the return of the NASA mission space crew
NASA did well to follow established protocol in bringing astronauts back

In the early hours (IST) of March 19, 2025, a SpaceX crew capsule bearing NASA astronauts Sunita
Williams, Barry Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov splashed down
off Florida. Ms. Williams and Mr. Wilmore had returned to the earth after nine months in the
International Space Station (ISS), whereas they had originally been expected to spend eight days in
the course of testing Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule. The Starliner saga has now concluded, but not
before it twisted the reality of human spaceflight out of context, making it sound like a caper rather
than a testament to the virtues of protocol. Following Starliner’s launch in June 2024, a series of
malfunctions left Ms. Williams and Mr. Wilmore onboard the ISS before the capsule returned empty
to the ground in September. The events spurred concerns and indignation in the popular imagination,
swirling around a dearth of information both NASA and Boeing were reluctant to fill. As their stay was
expanded to nine months, curiosity swelled over their well-being. While this response was natural,
speculation fuelled by insufficient updates and political propaganda in the U.S. also fanned
misinformation that cast Ms. Williams and Mr. Wilmore as having been “stranded” in space.

If the “stranded” narrative captures the gist of Starliner’s failure, it misses the inalienable
contingencies at the heart of human spaceflight. Ms. Williams herself has sought to downplay the use
of such terms. Over the years, but especially in the wake of the Challenger and Columbia shuttle
disasters in 1986 and 2003, NASA has instituted procedures its personnel are required to follow in a
variety of situations where events buck a pre-planned sequence. One is that astronauts onboard
malfunctioning spacecraft can move to the ISS, which is always prepared to host such visitors. But
many actors framed NASA as weak-willed for sticking to its protocols. When it scrubbed a prior
launch attempt of the capsule that returned the astronauts for technical reasons, supporters of U.S.
President Donald Trump accused the agency of infirmity rather than acknowledging it as a well-
known safety measure. Narratives that overlook the simple fact that two veterans were picked to
pilot Starliner’s first crewed flight belie the existence of multiple safety checkpoints and the great
lengths to which space agencies go to ensure one unexpected outcome does not spell catastrophe.
People, including in India — where concern for Ms. Williams parallels a growing pride in the country’s
budding human spaceflight programme owing to her Indian ancestry — would do well to replace
notions of triumphalism in space with good old “safety first”. Also, space agencies should realise the
importance of clear, timely communication as an integral part of safety protocol. [Practice Exercise]

 Red/blue coloring of words in the sentence indicates subject verb relationship; where ‘red’
denotes ‘subject’ and ‘blue’ denotes ‘verb’.
 Cosmonaut (noun) – a Russian astronaut.
 Weak-willed (adjective) – lacking the ability to resist the influence of other people or to control
one's own impulses.

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Vocabulary
1. Established (adjective) – Recognized, 13. Following (preposition) – After,
Accepted, Proven, Traditional, Settled Subsequent to, In the wake of, Post,
Behind

2. Protocol (noun) – Procedure, Guideline, 14. Malfunction (noun) – Failure, Breakdown,

Rule, Standard, Framework Glitch, Defect, Fault

3. Splash down (phrasal verb) – (of a 15. Onboard (verb) – Embark, Load, Enlist,
spacecraft) land on water. Join, Enter

4. Off (preposition) – Near, Close to, Beside, 16. Spur (verb) – Encourage, Stimulate,
Alongside, Adjacent to Prompt, Provoke, Motivate

5. In the course of (phrase) – During, 17. Indignation (noun) – Anger, Outrage,

Throughout, Over, While, Amidst Resentment, Fury, Wrath

6. Crew (noun) – Team, Staff, Personnel, 18. Swirl (verb) – Spin, Whirl, Twirl, Circulate,
Squad, Unit Churn

7. Saga (noun) – Story, Tale, Narrative, 19. Dearth (noun) – Lack, Shortage, Scarcity,
Chronicle, Episode Deficiency, Absence

8. Conclude (verb) – End, Finish, Complete, 20. Reluctant (adjective) – Hesitant, Unwilling,
Terminate, Wrap up Resistant, Disinclined, Averse

9. Twist (verb) – Distort, Misrepresent, Alter, 21. Swell (verb) – Increase, Grow, Expand,
Misinterpret, Manipulate Rise, Surge

10. Caper (noun) – an illicit or ridiculous 22. Well-being (noun) – Health, Welfare,
activity or escapade. Happiness, Comfort, Prosperity

11. Testament (noun) – Proof, Evidence, 23. Speculation (noun) – Guess, Conjecture,
Testament, Confirmation, Demonstration Hypothesis, Assumption, Theory

24. Fuel (verb) – Stimulate, Encourage,

12. Virtue (noun) – Quality, Merit, Advantage, Provoke, Ignite, Inflame
Strength, Excellence

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25. Fan (verb) – Stir, Whip up, Inflame, 36. Buck (verb) – Resist, Oppose, Defy,
Aggravate, Intensify Challenge, Withstand

26. Stranded (adjective) – Marooned, 37. Host (verb) – Accommodate, Welcome,

Abandoned, Isolated, Trapped, Deserted Entertain, Lodge, Receive

38. Stick (to) (verb) – Adhere, Follow, Abide

27. Narrative (noun) – Story, Account, Tale, by, Comply, Persist
Chronicle, Report
39. Scrub (verb) – Cancel, Abandon, Halt, Stop,
28. Gist (noun) – Essence, Core, Main point, Call off
Summary, Substance
40. Accuse (of) (verb) – Blame, Charge, Indict,
29. Inalienable (adjective) – Unassailable, Implicate, Allege
Absolute, Inviolable, Sacrosanct,
Untouchable 41. Infirmity (noun) – Weakness, Frailty,
Disability, Ailment, Debility
30. Contingency (noun) – Possibility,
Eventuality, Emergency, Uncertainty, Risk 42. Acknowledge (verb) – Admit, Recognize,
Accept, Concede, Confirm

31. Seek (verb) – Pursue, Search, Aim, Strive, 43. Overlook (verb) – Ignore, Neglect, Miss,
Request Disregard, Skip

32. Downplay (verb) – Understate, Minimize, 44. Veteran (noun) – Expert, Professional,
Underplay, Diminish, Belittle Seasoned, Experienced, Master

45. Belie (verb) – Contradict, Misrepresent,

33. In the wake of (phrase) – After, Following, Disguise, Conceal, Mask
Subsequent to, As a result of, Post
46. Outcome (noun) – Result, Consequence,
34. Shuttle (noun) – It is short for space Effect, Conclusion, End
shuttle.
47. Spell (verb) – Mean, Signify, Indicate,
35. Institute (verb) – Establish, Create, Found, Imply, Herald
Launch, Initiate
48. Catastrophe (noun) – Disaster, Calamity,
Tragedy, Mishap, Crisis

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49. Parallel (verb) – Match, Correspond, 53. Notion (noun) – Idea, Concept, Belief,
Resemble, Echo, Mirror Thought, Perception

50. Budding (adjective) – Growing, 54. Triumphalism (noun) – Boastfulness,

Developing, Emerging, Flourishing Arrogance, Overconfidence, Pride,
Exultation
,

55. Integral (adjective) – Essential,

51. Owing to (phrase) – Due to, Because of,
Fundamental, Crucial, Vital, Necessary
Thanks to, As a result of, On account of

52. Ancestry (noun) – Heritage, Lineage,

Descent, Origin, Pedigree

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Summary of the Editorial

1. Successful Return: On March 19, 2025, a SpaceX crew capsule safely returned NASA astronauts Sunita
Williams, Barry Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov to Earth,
splashing down off Florida.

2. Extended Stay: Williams and Wilmore spent nine months on the ISS, far longer than the originally
planned eight days, due to malfunctions with Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule.

3. Starliner Saga: The Starliner mission, intended to test Boeing’s capsule, faced multiple malfunctions
after its June 2024 launch, leading to the astronauts’ prolonged stay on the ISS.

4. Public Concerns: The extended mission sparked public concern and misinformation, with some
portraying Williams and Wilmore as “stranded” in space.

5. NASA’s Protocol: NASA adhered to established safety protocols, including the option for astronauts to
stay on the ISS if their spacecraft malfunctioned.

6. Misinformation: Insufficient updates from NASA and Boeing, combined with political propaganda,
fueled speculation and misinformation about the astronauts’ situation.

7. Downplaying “Stranded” Narrative: Williams herself rejected the “stranded” narrative, emphasizing
the importance of safety protocols in spaceflight.

8. Historical Context: NASA’s protocols were strengthened after the Challenger (1986) and Columbia
(2003) shuttle disasters to handle unexpected situations.

9. Criticism of NASA: Some critics, including supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump, accused
NASA of being weak-willed for adhering to safety measures, such as scrubbing a prior launch attempt.

10. Veteran Astronauts: Williams and Wilmore, both experienced astronauts, were chosen for Starliner’s
first crewed flight, highlighting NASA’s emphasis on safety and preparedness.

11. Safety Checkpoints: The mission underscored the multiple safety checkpoints and rigorous measures
space agencies implement to prevent catastrophic outcomes.

12. Global Attention: Williams’ Indian ancestry drew significant attention in India, where pride in the
country’s growing human spaceflight program is rising.

13. Triumphalism vs. Safety: The episode serves as a reminder to prioritize safety over triumphalism in
space exploration.

14. Importance of Communication: Clear and timely communication from space agencies is crucial to
prevent misinformation and maintain public trust.

15. Lessons Learned: The Starliner mission highlights the need for robust safety protocols, transparent
communication, and public understanding of the inherent risks in human spaceflight.

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