Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been in space for an extended mission, marked six months aboard the International Space Station on Thursday, with two months remaining. The duo launched on June 5 aboard Boeing’s new Starliner crew capsule, originally intended for a week-long test flight.
Their arrival at the International Space Station occurred the next day, but only after managing multiple thruster malfunctions and helium leaks.Nasa determined the capsule was too risky for a return journey, extending their challenging mission until February.
‘Living in space is super fun’
“I like everything about being up here,” Williams told students Wednesday from an elementary school named for her in Needham, Massachusetts in her hometown.
“Just living in space is super fun,” she added.
What daily-chores the crew members do up in space
Both astronauts are seasoned space travelers, having lived aboard the station before. They seamlessly integrated as full-fledged crew members, assisting with scientific experiments and tackling everyday tasks such as repairing a broken toilet, vacuuming air vents, and tending to plants. Sunita Williams stepped up as station commander in September.
“Mindset goes a long way,” noted Butch Wilmore, responding to a question from first-graders in Nashville during an October chat. Wilmore, a native of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, added “I don’t look at these situations in life as being downers.”
Williams reduced appetite upon arriving in space
Speaking with students on Wednesday, Williams admitted she initially had a reduced appetite upon arriving in space.
However, she now feels “super hungry,” consuming three meals a day along with snacks, while diligently completing the required two hours of daily exercise.
Sunita Williams, has also addressed speculation about her health during the mission, particularly rumors of significant weight loss. She firmly stated that her weight remains unchanged since launch.
Sunita William’s Diwali wishes from ISS
Earlier this year, Sunita extended her heartfelt wishes for Diwali to those celebrating in the United States, and around the world via video message shared from the International Space Station.
“Greetings from the ISS. I want to extend my warmest wishes for a Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating today at the White House and around the world.” she said.
Williams Marathon from space, her game day shirt
An avid distance runner, Sunita, 59, uses the space station treadmill to stay connected to races back on Earth. In August, she virtually participated in Cape Cod’s 7-mile Falmouth Road Race and had previously run the Boston Marathon from space in 2007 as well.
She brought along a New England Patriots shirt for game days and a Red Sox spring training shirt as part of her training item.
“Hopefully I’ll be home before that happens — but you never know,” she stated in November, while her husband Michael Williams, a retired federal marshal and former Navy aviator, tends to their dogs in Houston.
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Thanksgiving
Nasa had earlier released footage showing Williams and her colleague detailed their special space-appropriate menu, comprising smoked turkey, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, apples, and spice. “It’s going to be delicious,” they remarked cheerfully.
Wilmore, 61, is absent for his younger daughter’s final year of secondary school and his older daughter’s university theatre performances.
“We can’t deny that being unexpectedly separated, especially during the holidays when the entire family gets together, brings increased yearnings to share the time and events together,” his wife, Deanna Wilmore, told AP.
She noted her husband faces greater challenges, being confined to the space station with limited video communication opportunities.
“We are certainly looking forward to February!!” she added.
Olympics from space station
Nasa released a two-minute video on July 26, providing a glimpse into the astronauts’ fun-filled activities.
Earlier in 2023, Nasa astronaut Frank Rubio experienced an extended stay when the Russian Space Agency had to dispatch a replacement capsule for him and two cosmonauts, extending their six-month mission to over a year.
Boeing acknowledged this week that feedback from Wilmore and Williams has been “invaluable” in the ongoing investigation. The company indicated preparations for Starliner’s next flight whilst declining to specify a launch timeline.
Nasa expresses significant appreciation for both astronauts.
“Whether it was luck or whether it was selection, they were great folks to have for this mission,” Nasa’s chief health and medical officer, Dr JD Polk, said, in an interview with The Associated Press.
After Boeing returned its empty Starliner capsule in September, Nasa reassigned Wilmore and Williams to a SpaceX flight scheduled for late February. To maintain the six-month crew rotation schedule, two other astronauts were relocated to accommodate this change.
Like other station crews, Wilmore and Williams underwent preparation for spacewalks and potential emergency scenarios. According to Nasa Associate Administrator Jim Free, “When the crews go up, they know they could be there for up to a year.”
Despite Nasa officials’ reluctance to label them as stuck or stranded, both retired Navy captains maintain a positive outlook about their situation. They remain composed and accepting, with Wilmore considering it an alternative route: “We’re just on a different path.”