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Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore ‘became Santa’ on the International Space Station this week before Christmas. The two astronauts have been living on the ISS for a little more than six months due to problems with their Boeing Starliner capsule. Holiday gifts and other supplies were also delivered to the ISS on Monday via a SpaceX Dragon craft.
“Another day, another sleigh. “NASA astronauts Don Pettit and Sunita Williams pose for a fun holiday season portrait while talking on ham radio inside the space station’s Columbus Laboratory module,” the agency wrote on Instagram along with a photo of the two.
Photos shared from the ISS also show crew members wearing Santa hats and adding to the festive atmosphere in various areas.
Williams and Wilmore have been ‘stranded’ in space since June following a glitch during a week-long test flight. They arrived at the ISS aboard a new Boeing Starliner crew capsule after overcoming a series of thruster failures and helium leaks. However NASA deemed the capsule too risky for a return flight and it ultimately returned to Earth without any passengers. Two retired Navy captains are now scheduled to return home on a SpaceX flight in late February. NASA has sent two other astronauts to make room for their return flight and ensure a six-month schedule for crew rotation.
“I love everything about living here…It’s so much fun to be in space,” Williams told elementary school students in his hometown earlier this month.
While NASA managers shy away from calling them stranded or trapped, two retired Navy captains avoid describing their plight. They insist that they are fine and are accepting of their fate.
The two astronauts soon became full members of the crew – helping with science experiments and chores like fixing broken toilets, vacuuming air vents, and watering plants. Williams took up the post of station commander in September.
While NASA managers shy away from calling them stranded or trapped, two retired Navy captains avoid describing their plight. They insist that they are fine and are accepting of their fate.
The two astronauts soon became full members of the crew – helping with science experiments and chores like fixing broken toilets, vacuuming air vents, and watering plants. Williams took over as station commander in September
(with inputs from agencies)
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