Two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who were supposed to return to Earth in August 2024, will now remain in space until February 2025 due to issues with their spacecraft.
The pair launched on June 5, 2024, on what was originally planned to be an eight-day mission.
However, due to problems with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, including helium leaks and malfunctioning thrusters, their return was delayed, BBC reports.
NASA decided that the Starliner, which was initially meant to bring Williams and Wilmore back, would return to Earth “un-crewed” because of safety concerns.
As a result, their return was rescheduled for early 2025 with SpaceX.
Addressing a press conference last Friday, the astronauts discussed their extended stay.
“This is my happy place. I love being up here in space,” Williams said.
Wilmore added, “It was trying at times. There were some tough times all the way through.
“That’s how things go in this business.”
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore during a press conference from the International Space Station on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (NASA via AP)
Military.com reports that this was their first public comment since the return of the Boeing Starliner capsule that transported them to the International Space Station in June.
According to the BBC, they are sharing the International Space Station with nine other people. Each day is carefully scheduled by mission control on Earth, with astronauts starting their day around 06:30 GMT.
The compartments are equipped with laptops for the crew to keep in touch with family and include a small area for personal items such as photos and books.
The astronauts might then use the bathroom, a compact compartment with a suction system. Typically, sweat and urine are recycled into drinking water, but due to a fault on the ISS, the crew is currently required to store urine instead.
The astronauts then begin their work, which primarily involves maintenance tasks or conducting scientific experiments.
“We are pushing the edges of the envelope in everything that we do. And it is not easy,” Wilmore said. “It’s not an easy thing to do, but that’s not why we do it. Maybe we do it because it’s hard.”
“We’re both Navy. We’ve both been on deployments. We’re not surprised when deployments get changed,” Williams added.
Although they will miss the US elections in November, Williams looks forward to voting from space.
“It’s a very important duty that we have as citizens, and [we’re] looking forward to being able to vote from space, which is pretty cool,” Williams told newsmen.
The decision was made to extend the pair’s stay on the ISS until February 2025 so they can return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
The extra time allows SpaceX to launch its next vehicle, with lift-off scheduled for the end of September.
It was initially planned to carry four astronauts, but the spacecraft will now be launched with only two.
This adjustment allows for Wilmore and Williams to return to Earth aboard the vehicle at the end of its mission in February.
The two astronauts shared that, although they miss their families and friends, they are both enjoying their time aboard the ISS and the work they are doing as crew members.
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