British astronaut Tim Peake has assured that the Boeing test pilots stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) are not in any danger, despite uncertainties surrounding their return to Earth.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who flew the first crewed mission of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to the ISS in June, are currently waiting for Boeing and NASA to find a fix for several failed thrusters that were used to steer the capsule.
In an interview with Sky News, Peake stated, “I know Butch and Suni very well. The ISS is a fantastic hub with plenty of food and resources. The crew are completely safe and I know the agencies are working on a return option for them.”
Peake, who was speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow, also announced his role in the first commercial mission to put UK astronauts in orbit. Axiom Space, the company organizing the mission in partnership with the UK Space Agency, aims to attract at least £200m in private sponsorship to make it happen.
“The space industry in the UK is doing well, growing at four times the rate of the UK economy,” Peake said. “So, by having this strong presence for UK space exploration, it means that filters down and brings a return to the rest of the space industry.”
Axiom Space has previously organized three trips to the ISS for billionaire space tourists and European-funded astronauts. However, the commercial mission for four UK astronauts would be the first of its kind.
Tejpaul Bhatia, the company’s chief revenue officer, stated that the crew could launch on a Space X rocket from Florida within two to three years and spend around two weeks on the ISS. He also emphasized the importance of commercial space exploration, stating, “This is another path to space.”
With the rapidly falling costs of reaching low-Earth orbit and the planned decommissioning of the ISS in 2030, opportunities for commercial operators are opening up. Axiom is already ahead of the pack, operating missions to the ISS during its final years, not just for scientific purposes, but also to learn more about how humans can live in space.
The company is hoping to attract funding for the UK mission from various sectors such as life sciences, data communications, and security. These companies could commission experiments to be carried out by the crew during the mission.
The UK Space Agency has also pledged £15m to fly British science into space as part of the mission, if it goes ahead. Dr. Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, stated, “Astronauts are the visible face of human spaceflight, but this mission is fundamentally about showcasing what space can do for citizens. From cutting-edge science and innovative technology demonstrations in micro-gravity, to the education and outreach work that will run alongside it, this mission shows how space breaks down barriers to opportunity and kickstarts economic growth.”
