[ad_1]
Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were sent to NASA’s International Space Station aboard a Boeing Starliner space capsule in June this year. Their week-long space trip was extended to months due to repeated helium leaks and other technical problems. The Indian-origin astronaut will now return to Earth aboard a SpaceX spacecraft in 2025.
“Wilmore and Williams will continue their work formally as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew until February 2025,” NASA said in a statement. They will return home aboard a Dragon spacecraft along with two other crew members assigned to the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission. Starliner is expected to depart the space station and make a safe, controlled autonomous re-entry and landing in early September.
Amid repeated delays in the return space flight of the two astronauts, there have also been reports of ill effects on their health due to staying in space longer than expected. Sunita Williams’ family recently reacted to the news of the delay in her space flight.
Sunita Williams’ mom reacts to delay in her space flight
Sunita Williams’ mother Bonnie Pandya, also known as Suni Williams, recently reacted to the news of her daughter’s space journey being extended. Despite Sunita Williams’ space flight being delayed and experts sharing their concerns, Pandya is unfazed by the development as she sees her daughter as an ‘experienced astronaut’ who knows ‘what to do’.
“I don’t give her any advice. She knows what to do. She is an experienced astronaut. She has been in space for over 400 days,” Pandya said in an interview with NewsNation host Andrew Cuomo.
Sunita Williams’ message to her mother
Pandya also shared his daughter’s message with the news outlet. A few days ago, while speaking to her mother, Sunita Williams told Pandya “not to worry” and that “everything will be fine.”
Sunita Williams’ husband reacts to her space flight delay: ‘It’s her…’
Sunita Williams’ husband Michael reacted to the repeated reports of delays from space. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Michael said, “That is her happy place.”
The astronauts typically come and go over a six-month period. In addition to scientific investigations and maintenance, they conduct public outreach, such as live video question-and-answer sessions with students.
[ad_2]
