• superkret@feddit.org
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    4 months ago

    They do have a way to get home right now, safely. Their mission was simply changed to staying up longer.

      • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        The part of the spacecraft that has the issue they’re researching is the part that has already done its job (getting to the space station). That part isn’t needed for the flight home, and in fact, gets jettisoned not long after departure from the station. Thats the reason they haven’t left yet. If they leave, the part of the spacecraft with the problem gets thrown away and they can’t learn anything more from it.

        • LordCrom@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Is that correct? I thought the simulations being run were to determine if the leaks posed any potential risk during separation, and triple checked multiple times to ensure safety. I didn’t consider it was for data collection