
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are making the most of their extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Initially, they were meant to return to Earth on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, but due to technical issues, the spacecraft was sent back uncrewed.
In a recent press conference, the astronauts shared their thoughts on the unexpected turn of events.
When asked if they felt let down by Boeing, Wilmore replied, "Absolutely not." He acknowledged the challenges of space travel and the risks involved. Williams added that their transition to the ISS crew was seamless, as they had been preparing for this mission for years.
Instead of returning on Starliner, the astronauts will now fly back to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon capsule as part of NASA's Crew-9 mission. Williams sees this as a unique opportunity, saying, "We're excited to fly in two different spacecraft... we're testers, that's what we do."
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Both astronauts are making the most of their extended stay, with Williams stating, "Space is my happy place... every day you do something that's 'work' — you can do it upside down, you can do it sideways, so it adds a little different perspective."
Williams and Wilmore have become integral members of the ISS crew, contributing to ongoing research and experiments. Their extended stay has also allowed them to take on new responsibilities, with Williams set to become the Commander of the ISS soon.
NASA's Crew-9 mission return journey
NASA's Crew-9 mission is scheduled to launch later this month, with Williams and Wilmore expected to return to Earth as soon as February next year. Despite the initial setback, the astronauts remain positive and focused on their new mission objectives.