Astronaut Sunita Williams is currently facing an unexpected adventure in space. According to her husband Michael, despite the unusual circumstances, space is her “happy place.” Williams, along with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, is stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) due to issues with their Boeing Starliner.
Originally, the Starliner was supposed to carry Williams and Wilmore to space for an eight-day mission starting June 5. However, problems with the spacecraft, including thruster failures and helium leaks, have extended their stay. NASA now estimates they might be stuck in space until February next year.
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The malfunctioning Starliner has required the astronauts to stay on the ISS for ongoing testing to determine if the capsule can safely return to Earth. If these issues can’t be resolved, NASA may need to arrange a rescue mission, possibly involving Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
While their mission has unexpectedly lengthened, Williams and Wilmore are keeping busy with daily scientific research, spacecraft maintenance, and creating educational content, including live Q&A sessions with students, according to a report by Wall Street Journal (via New York Post). They also exercise for several hours daily to prevent the effects of long-term space travel on their bones and muscles, while their health is closely monitored from Earth.
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Wilmore’s family, who lives in Texas, remains calm about his extended stay. His wife Deanna mentioned, “You know, we probably don’t expect him until February, February or March.” His family stays connected with him through frequent FaceTime calls, enjoying views of Earth from space. Daryn shared, “It is so cool, he gives us a lot of Earth views, I especially like seeing the sunset.”