LONDON: NASA astronauts stuck in space until 2025 have admitted to facing “tough times” but stressed they don’t feel let down by Boeing, according to agency reports.
The astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams, were originally scheduled for an eight-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule. However, due to issues with the spacecraft, they will now return to Earth on a SpaceX craft in February, extending their mission to over eight months.
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Wilmore explained, “We discovered things with Starliner that we couldn’t get comfortable with, so we chose other options.” Speaking from the International Space Station, he described the past few months as challenging, with some “tough times,” but emphasized their involvement in the assessment of their spacecraft, Calypso.
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Despite the difficulties, Wilmore expressed no disappointment with Boeing, saying, “Let down? Absolutely not. That thought never crossed my mind.” He added that Boeing is committed to making the necessary changes following the issues with the Starliner capsule.
Reflecting on the challenges of space missions, Wilmore said, “When you’re pushing the limits with new spacecraft like Starliner, you’re bound to find some problems. In this case, we had the luxury of other options, like staying at the Space Station and returning via SpaceX.”
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He concluded by acknowledging how fortunate they were to have alternative solutions, unlike past missions where no other options existed.
