Two astronauts may have to wait until 2025 to return from the International Space Station (ISS), NASA officials have announced.

Published

9 months ago

August 9, 2024

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The Boeing Starliner capsule, which sent them into orbit at the beginning of June, is currently unable to return them safely to Earth. The American agency could therefore call on Elon Musk and his company SpaceX, but if Starliner cannot make it back from the ISS, the duo could possibly return on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in February 2025.

“We could take either path,” Ken Bowersox, the associate administrator for NASA’s space operations mission directorate, said. “And reasonable people could pick either path depending on where their view is on, on our position and the uncertainty bound that we have for the data that we’ve got on the thruster system, on the propulsion system.”

According to Fox16, Starliner launched its test crew mission on June 5, after a series of delays caused by leaks and thruster issues. This marked the first time the company launched a crewed mission to space.

While trying to dock at the ISS in June, five of the 28 thrusters went down. The mission was initially supposed to last about 8 days, but there is still no official return date for Wiliams and Wilmore after the issues.

NASA said that they have been in talks with SpaceX for them to leave two vacant seats on their upcoming Crew Dragon launch in September, setting them up for a possible return next year. NASA’s commercial crew program manager Steve Stich said the best option is still to return the astronauts on the Starliner.

“You know, our prime option is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner,” Stich said. “However, we have done the requisite planning to make sure we have other options open, and so we have been working with SpaceX to ensure that they’re ready to respond on Crew Nine for a contingency of returning a Butch and Suni on Crew Nine, if we need that.”

“We have set up the Dragon for Crew Nine to have flexibility, to have only two passengers fly up on that flight, and then we could return four crew members in the February 2025, timeframe,” he added.

Gunmen kill physiotherapist on duty in UBTH

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32 minutes ago

April 29, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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A physiotherapist at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, simply identified as Alex, was last Friday reportedly killed by gunmen at the hospital.

Ekwutosblog gathered that the gunmen stormed the hospital and shot the deceased, who was at his twenties, to death.

It was gathered that patients and other health workers at the hospital scampered for safety during the incident.

Meanwhile some staff of the hospital especially those at the Physiotherapy Department have staged a peaceful protest over the gruesome killing of their colleague.

In a viral video, the staff were seen protesting and brandishing various placards to register their displeasure over the incident.

Ekwutosblog reports that lately, the high rate of killings in the state has become worrisome.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Teaching Hospital, Joshua Uwaila, confirmed the killing.

Uwaila said that the management of the hospital has reported the matter to the security agencies and are awaiting the outcome of their findings.

BREAKING NEWS: EFCC has @rrested E-Money for alleged Naira abusə.

Published

8 hours ago

April 29, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested E-Money, a popular Nigerian entertainer, over @llegations of Naira abusə. According to Vanguard, the EFCC has taken E-Money into custody, although specific details about the @rrest and allegations are still emerging.

Source: Vanguard News.

EFCC arrests Aisha Achimugu at Abuja Airport

Published

11 hours ago

April 29, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested a renowned business executive and socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu.

Her legal team made this known in a statement on Tuesday, emphasizing that Achimugu, who arrived voluntarily into the country from London, was arrested around 5 a.m. on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, her lawyer had reportedly told the Federal High Court in Abuja that she had already stated in her court documents that she would visit the EFCC today in connection with its ongoing investigation into an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

Ekwutosblog reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered Achimugu to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, to respond to allegations related to an ongoing investigation.

The court also directed that she must be present before it on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to continue proceedings in the matter.