Poach Wilmor and Sony Williams, known all over the world as the stranded astronauts, reached the six -month mark in space on December 5, with another two months remaining.
The duo set out to al -Madar on June 5, and they were the first to take the new Starlaner crew capsule from Boeing, while it was supposed to be a weekly experimental journey. They arrived at the International Space Station the next day, only after overcoming a series of failure and helium leaks. NASA considered that the capsule is very risky for the return trip, so it will be February before its long and stressed mission will end.
While NASA’s managers are upset who described them as stuck or cut off, the retired captain of the navy ignores the description of their ordeal. They insist that they are fine and accept their fate. And Mr. Willmur sees the matter as a kind of turn: “We are walking on a different path.”
“I love everything related to being here,” Mrs. Williams told her students on December 4 from an elementary school called her name in Nidham, Massachusetts, her hometown. “Just living in space is very fun.”
The astronaut has lived there before, and soon they became a complete member of the crew, as they helped in scientific experiments and homework such as repairing broken toilet, cleaning air openings, and watering plants. Mrs. Williams took the position of the station leader in September.
“The mentality has a long way,” said Mr. Willmur, in response to a question from the first grade students in Nashville in October. It is from Juliet Mountain, Tennessee. “I do not look at these situations in life as frustrated.”
Boeing flew her Starlaner capsule to her empty home in September, and NASA moved the Master and Mrs. Williams to the SpaceX trip, which is scheduled to return until late February. Other astronauts have been collided to make room and adhere to a six -month schedule to rotate the crew.
Like the other station sets, Mr. Wilmor and Mrs. Williams trained to walk in space and any unexpected situations that may arise.
“When the crews go up, they know that they may stay there for up to a year,” said Jim Fri, the assistant director of NASA.
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio discovered this in the difficult way when the Russian Space Agency was forced to expedite the transmission of an alternative capsule and a space monitor in 2023, which led to the postponement of their six -month mission to a little more than a year.
Boeing said this week that the inputs of Mr. Willmur and Mrs. Williams were “invaluable” in the continuous investigation of the error that occurred. The company said in a statement that it was preparing for the next Starlaner, but it refused to comment on the possible date to launch it again.
NASA also has the great praise of the husband.
“Whether it is luck or the choice, these people were great in this task,” NASA, Dr. JD Polk, Senior Health and Medicine Office for NASA, said during an interview with the Associated Press.
Above everything else, Mrs. Williams had to deal with “rumors”, as she calls it, about serious weight loss. And she insists that her weight is the same that she was on the day of launch, which is confirmed by your Palk.
During a student conversation on December 4, Mrs. Williams said she had no appetite when she reached space for the first time. But it is now “very hungry” and eating three meals per day in addition to snacks, while doing the daily exercise required for two hours.
Mrs. Williams, a long -distance runner, uses a walking device at the space station to support racing in her original state. She participated in the 7 -miles -long -length road race in Cape Code in August. The Boston Marathon was also turned there as well.
She has the New England Patriots shirt with her for playing days, as well as a spring -training Red Sox shirt.
“I hope to go home before that happens, but you never know that,” she said in November. The husband Michael Williams, a retired Federal Marshal and the former naval pilot takes care of his scores at his home in Houston.
As for Mr. Willmore, he lacks the last year of his younger daughter in high school and theatrical production of his eldest daughter in the college.
“We cannot deny that separation is unexpectedly, especially during holidays when the entire family meets, increases the desire to share time and events together.” Her husband, “his condition is worse than us” because he is being held at the space station and can only contact the video for short periods.
“We are definitely looking forward to February !!” I wrote.
This story mentioned the Associated Press.
