“The Martian” (2015), “Alien” (1979), “Interstellar” (2014) and “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) are adored and acclaimed movies for their contribution to the “stuck in space” science fiction trope. Yet, the general public remains mostly unaware when fiction becomes reality.
Two NASA astronauts are stuck on the International Space Station (ISS). Pilot Sunita "Suni" Williams and Commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore, arrived at the ISS June 6. They were scheduled to depart from the station eight days later, but they remained there for almost three months because of Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft.
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and has transported billions of passengers across the world since 1958. However, the company’s past few months have been filled with controversy. Loose parts, flying doors and company squabbles have created tension between customer and company, and passengers have grown wary of traveling on Boeing commercial flights.
The company's last controversy lies with Boeing’s Starliner, which brought Williams and Wilmore to the ISS but stranded the astronauts on the space station. Issues began before takeoff, when engineers discovered a smallheliumleak in the spacecraft.
Deemed too small to affect the mission, the launch proceeded, but four more helium leaks developed and five of the 28 maneuvering thrusters cut off during the flight. Fortunately, astronauts Williams and Wilmore arrived at the station safely. However, NASA immediately extended their trip to study the faults of the Starliner.
After weeks of uncertainty and an 8,600-pound supply delivery to the ISS, the Starliner was deemed faulty. According to Miles O’Brien of PBS, “There was no logical or safety rationale to put two human beings at risk for this return of the Boeing Starliner.”
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth unmanned. Instead of returning to earth in the Starliner, Williams and Wilmore will return to Earth in a SpaceX capsule next year. The change extends their mission by nearly 9 months and setbacks NASA’s plans for future space travel.
The story has made only a small splash in the news cycle. It has been picked up by mainstream news sites and programs but remains unspoken about by the general public.
“Space travel issues” is listed as the number one science fiction trope by Writer’s Digest. The trope is a common theme used in media, typically in fiction, and has been used to the point where it can be identified by certain plot points. Numerous books and movies have been written about astronauts stuck in space, and the trope remains popular to this day.
“The Martian” is a well-known example of this science fiction trope. Mark Watney, portrayed by Matt Damon in the movie adaptation, becomes international news when he is left behind after an emergency evacuation from Mars. Numerous countries come together to work on his return to Earth, and daily news is saturated with his everyday activities and status.
Other media, such as “Alien” and “Interstellar," are also praised for their portrayals of astronauts’ lives while they are stuck in space. It comes as a surprise when social media is not blowing up with the news of Williams’ and Wilmore’s situation.
However, the experienced pair are not stranded on an uninhabited planet or facing a matter of life or death. For things to go viral, they have to elicit a strong emotion. “The Martian” provides an edge-of-your-seat feeling while “Alien” elicits the fear of the unpredictable and unknown. In “Interstellar,” the biggest emotion is the hope for a better world.
In real life, the astronauts’ situation is uncertain and unprecedented, but they are not in danger. The stakes are low, and the astronauts are almost guaranteed a safe return to Earth — sometimes with a couple of travel delays. It may be good their story remains off newscasts and newspapers because if not, it may mean the situation has taken a turn for the worse.
