Two astronauts stranded in space have opened up on the difficulties they face as they wait to be rescued from the International Space Station.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams went up on the Boeing Starliner in June but what was supposed to be an eight-day mission has turned into eight months as Nasa announced at the end of August that the pair would have to wait until February 2025 to return home due to problems with their spacecraft. They will hitch a ride back on a rival vessel, Space X.
Today Wilmore said in a press confernce beamed from the ISS that there have been “some trying times” since the start of the mission in space, noting it was difficult to see the Starliner spacecraft leave without them.
He added: “I just want everyone to know how much we appreciate [their support],” Wilmore said.
“The concern for us specifically is very heart-warming.”
Williams, who has just been named the commander of the ISS, says that she is also in good spirits.
“We’re here with our friends, we’ve got a ride home.”
The pair were asked if it was difficult to see the Starliner leave without them.
Williams said that they were both tasked with ensuring it left the ISS safely.
“We were watching our spaceship fly away,” she says, while talking to control team on Earth.
She says as her and Wilmore used to work in the Navy “we’re not surprised when deployments get changed” and that their families understand.
“It’s risky and that’s how it goes in the business,” she added.
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