When Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft launched on June 5, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore The stay in space was estimated to be only eight days.
However, after a thruster failure and helium leak before the pair could safely dock with the International Space Station (ISS), NASA has decided to postpone the pair’s return to Earth, which may be delayed until February 2025.
“You know, we don’t expect him to come until February or March,” Wilmore’s wife said. Diana.
Wilmore has two daughters, both 19 years old. Darin And then 16 years old Logan— Thanks to Deanna, he was able to Facetime his family from the ISS multiple times a day.
“It’s so beautiful. It shows us lots of views of the Earth. I especially love watching the sunsets,” her eldest daughter said.
Deanna added, “He just accepts it, knowing that the Lord is in control, and because the Lord is in control, he’s happy where he is.”
“You just have to adapt and expect the unexpected.”
Suni’s husband, Michael Williamssaid last week that she doesn’t think she’s disappointed about spending more time on the space station. The Wall Street Journal“That’s her happy place.”
NASA’s Chief Astronaut, Joe Acaba“If Butch and Suni don’t return aboard Starliner and remain on the space station, they’ll spend approximately eight months in orbit,” astronaut John McCain said during an August 14 media conference call.
“We have successfully conducted multiple long-duration missions of up to a year,” he added.
It’s unclear whether Wilmore and Williams will have to spend another six months in space or return with another crew in September — the latter option, which NASA is reluctant to do, would see the pair return to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which is operated by NASA. Elon Muskis a company.
The switch to SpaceX will require the removal of two of the four astronauts currently assigned to the next ferry flight, scheduled for late September. Wilmore and Williams will take up vacant seats on SpaceX’s Dragon capsule at the end of their six-month mission, meaning the two astronauts will have to stay aboard the ISS for another six months, until February 2025.
“The mantra you’ve heard, ‘Failure is not an option,’ is what has kept us here,” Wilmore said.
“We are confident that the testing we are doing is what we need to get the right answers and provide us with the data we need to get back.”