Stranded astronauts/ astronauts stuck in orbit/ Boeing capsule astronauts left/ Newslooks/ CAPE CANAVERAL/ Fla./ Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, left behind on the International Space Station after their Boeing Starliner capsule returned without them, spoke about adjusting to an unexpectedly extended mission. Originally planned as an eight-day trip, their mission is now expected to last over eight months due to issues with the capsule. Both astronauts have become full-fledged members of the space station crew.
Stuck-in-Space Astronauts Reflect: Quick Looks
- Unexpected Extension: Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were left behind after NASA deemed their Boeing Starliner capsule too risky to fly back.
- Extended Mission: Originally set for eight days, their mission will now last over eight months.
- Adjusting to Life in Orbit: Both astronauts have experience on the space station, helping ease their transition to the longer stay.
- Boeing’s Spaceflight Troubles: Their capsule endured thruster failures and helium leaks before safely returning to Earth without the crew.
NASA Astronauts Left in Space for Months Share Experience of Being Stuck in Orbit
Deep Look
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, are now facing an extended stay on the International Space Station (ISS) after their Boeing Starliner capsule was deemed too risky for their return. The astronauts spoke publicly for the first time since the incident, sharing their thoughts on being left behind and adjusting to an unexpectedly long mission.
“It was trying at times. There were some tough times all the way through,” Wilmore said, reflecting on the difficult moment when they realized their capsule would return to Earth without them. As the first test pilots for Boeing’s Starliner, they were well aware that complications could arise, but the prospect of being stranded for months wasn’t what they had planned.
Since the return of the capsule, which endured thruster failures and helium leaks during its trip, both astronauts have been fully integrated into the station’s crew, joining in routine maintenance tasks and scientific experiments. They’re also adjusting to the reality of missing out on significant moments back on Earth. For Wilmore, it means missing his youngest daughter’s final year of high school, while Williams has had to come to terms with not seeing her mother in person for months longer than expected.
Though the circumstances are challenging, both astronauts have found ways to cope. Wilmore recently requested an absentee ballot to ensure he can vote from space, emphasizing the importance of civic duty despite being far from home. Meanwhile, Williams, who has logged two previous long stays on the ISS, shared that being in space is “her happy place,” which has made the adjustment easier.
Their ordeal began in June when their Starliner capsule arrived at the ISS, marking Boeing’s first crewed spaceflight. However, soon after docking, problems arose, prompting NASA to leave the astronauts behind while the capsule returned to Earth without them. While the Starliner capsule made a safe landing in the New Mexico desert earlier this month, Boeing’s future in NASA’s commercial crew program remains uncertain, especially given SpaceX’s success since it began flying astronauts in 2020.
Despite the setback, Williams remains excited about her unique mission, which will allow her to fly on two different spacecraft—the Boeing Starliner and, later, SpaceX. “We’re testers, that’s what we do,” she said, expressing her readiness to look forward to the next phase of the mission.
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