It’s been more than two months since astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are trapped on the International Space Station (ISS) due of mechanical issues with their Boeing Starliner aircraft.
But their family seem to be less anxious, thinking both the astronauts must be enjoying their job in space.
Michael, husband of Indian-origin Sunita Williams has remarked that the space is her “happy place” even if she’s confined there permanently, according to a story by The Wall Street Journal.
NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched aboard Boeing's new Starliner capsule on June 5 and the two astronauts were slated to remain in orbit for only eight days.
But helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, that almost wrecked their arrival at the ISS, have held them there considerably longer than intended.
Williams and Wilmore’s stay on the ISS has been extended indefinitely as the NASA has announced that their mission aboard the Boeing Starliner might stretch eight months, with a return possibly happening in February.
Presently, Williams and Wilmore are among seven other astronauts on the ISS. They normally spend their days with scientific research and maintenance of the spaceship — and also develop instructional content like as addressing live questions with students and kids, The Wall Street Journal stated.
Read Also: What Prompted Sunita Williams’ Husband To Finally Break His Silence Over NASA?
Earlier, NASA's commercial crew program director Steve Stich had suggested that the earliest the Starliner astronauts may return is the end of July.
Wilmore’s family is similarly relaxed about his lengthy stay in space.
“You know, we probably don’t expect him until February, February or March,” said Wilmore’s wife Deanna, as per a New York Post story.
His family also revealed that they Facetime with him multiple times during most days to remain in touch, said New York Post.
“It is so cool, he gives us a lot of Earth views, I especially like seeing the sunset,” Wilmore’s daughter Daryn told WVLT in Nashville.
Five thrusters failed when the spacecraft neared the space station on June 6, a day after liftoff. Four have subsequently been revived. Wilmore said there should be enough operational rockets to pull him and Williams out of orbit.
“That phrase you've heard, failure is not an option, that's why we are staying here today," Wilmore had added. “We trust that the tests that we're doing are the ones we need to do to get the right answers, to give us the data that we need to come back.”
Kari Pettersen
It’s been more than two months since astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are trapped on the International Space Station (ISS) due of mechanical issues with their Boeing Starliner aircraft.
But their family seem to be less anxious, thinking both the astronauts must be enjoying their job in space.
Michael, husband of Indian-origin Sunita Williams has remarked that the space is her “happy place” even if she’s confined there permanently, according to a story by The Wall Street Journal.
NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched aboard Boeing's new Starliner capsule on June 5 and the two astronauts were slated to remain in orbit for only eight days.
But helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, that almost wrecked their arrival at the ISS, have held them there considerably longer than intended.
Williams and Wilmore’s stay on the ISS has been extended indefinitely as the NASA has announced that their mission aboard the Boeing Starliner might stretch eight months, with a return possibly happening in February.
Presently, Williams and Wilmore are among seven other astronauts on the ISS. They normally spend their days with scientific research and maintenance of the spaceship — and also develop instructional content like as addressing live questions with students and kids, The Wall Street Journal stated.
Read Also: What Prompted Sunita Williams’ Husband To Finally Break His Silence Over NASA?
Earlier, NASA's commercial crew program director Steve Stich had suggested that the earliest the Starliner astronauts may return is the end of July.
Wilmore’s family is similarly relaxed about his lengthy stay in space.
“You know, we probably don’t expect him until February, February or March,” said Wilmore’s wife Deanna, as per a New York Post story.
His family also revealed that they Facetime with him multiple times during most days to remain in touch, said New York Post.
“It is so cool, he gives us a lot of Earth views, I especially like seeing the sunset,” Wilmore’s daughter Daryn told WVLT in Nashville.
Five thrusters failed when the spacecraft neared the space station on June 6, a day after liftoff. Four have subsequently been revived. Wilmore said there should be enough operational rockets to pull him and Williams out of orbit.
“That phrase you've heard, failure is not an option, that's why we are staying here today," Wilmore had added. “We trust that the tests that we're doing are the ones we need to do to get the right answers, to give us the data that we need to come back.”