2024-09-15 13:17:29
The two American astronauts, who have been stranded in space for eight months, said it was difficult for them to watch their malfunctioning ship leave the International Space Station (ISS) without them, but they were happy and trained to “expect the unexpected”.
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore appeared happy and healthy at a press conference on Friday after being told by NASA to stay aboard the ISS due to potential malfunctions in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, the BBC reported.
“This is my happy place,” Suni Williams said, but admitted she misses her family and her two dogs.
They said they were unhappy with some of the Starliner’s problems, but were still sad to see it leave the station and return to Earth without them.
The two astronauts thanked people for their messages and prayers.
“The concern for us is very heartfelt,” Butch Wilmore said.
Asked if they felt misled by Boeing, Wilmore said, “Absolutely not.”
The Starliner spacecraft touched down without a crew in the New Mexico desert on Sept. 7, ending a three-month test mission marred by technical problems that forced Wilmore and Williams, who became the first crew to fly it to the ISS, to remain there until next year.
Five of the Starliner’s 28 maneuvering engines during their approach to the ISS in June, and the same propulsion system, developed several leaks of helium, which is used to pressurize the engines.
Both astronauts said their training taught them to quickly adjust to the long delay and focus on their mission, but admitted they were worried they wouldn’t be able to fulfill their plans to spend time with their families.
The two astronauts talked about their work routines — Butch Wilmore gets up at 4:30 a.m. and Sunny Williams gets up at 6:30 a.m. Both said they enjoy the exercise they have to do daily to combat the loss of bone density from living in space.
“Your joints don’t hurt, which is nice,” Wilmore added.
Suni Williams shared that being in space makes her think more about planet Earth.
“This is the only planet we have, and we have to take care of it. There are so many people on Earth who send us messages that it makes you feel at home,” she adds.
Wilmore and Williams will return to Earth on a SpaceX ship in February 2025. On board the ISS – a scientific laboratory the size of a football field, located about 402 km in space – there are seven more astronauts, writes bTV.
They arrived at different times with other spacecraft, including a Russian Soyuz capsule.
Wilmore and Williams are expected to continue doing science experiments with their crewmates.