Credit: NASA & @iss/Instagram
Astronauts Stuck In Space For Over Six Months Issue Haunting Plea From International Space Station
The astronauts stuck in space for more than six months have issued a plea to Earth from the International Space Station.
Two American astronauts have been navigating the challenges of an unplanned seven-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), voicing their longing to return to Earth while remaining dedicated to their mission.
Butch Wilmore, 62, and Sunita Williams, 59, initially arrived at the ISS on June 5, 2024, for what was intended to be an eight-day mission.
However, due to safety issues, NASA made the decision to return the Boeing Starliner spacecraft they arrived on back to Earth without passengers.
As a result, the two astronauts have been stationed in orbit ever since.
Despite their prolonged stay, the astronauts have adapted well to the situation.
They are scheduled to return to Earth in early April 2025 with the rest of the Crew-9 team, marking the conclusion of the ongoing Expedition 72.
Williams now serves as the commander of Expedition 72, while Wilmore, along with Nick Hague, 49, and Don Pettit, 69, fulfills the role of flight engineers.
The extended mission has not been without its challenges.
Limited space aboard the Starliner meant some personal items, including clothing, had to be left behind when Wilmore and Williams first arrived.
Reflecting on this, Wilmore explained (per Mail Online): “It was well known that when we came up here, we swapped out a couple of components that we needed on the space station for some of our clothes.
“So we wore [the same] clothes for a while, but that doesn’t bother us, because, you know, clothes fit loosely up here.”
He noted that conditions in space differ significantly from Earth, making it possible to wear garments for extended periods without discomfort.
“It’s not like on Earth where you sweat and it gets bad,” Wilmore added. The astronauts have since received additional clothing, delivered by the Crew-9 team in September 2024.
While addressing rumors of potential hardships aboard the ISS, the crew assured NASA leadership that they are in good spirits and well-supported.
Melroy joked: “So what you’re telling us is you’re not channeling ‘Cast Away,’ and you don’t have a volleyball with a handprint on it that you call Wilson.”
Williams humorously responded: “No, we’ve got a whole team up here, so we’re not worried about that.”
The team has remained productive, participating in various scientific experiments and mission tasks.
“We had tons of science experiments with SpaceX 31 [a cargo resupply mission]. We’ve got spacewalks coming up. It’s just been a joy to be working up here, particularly with our counterparts on the other end of the space station,” Williams shared.
NASA highlighted that Expedition 72 aims to explore advanced life-support systems, pharmaceutical production, genetic sequencing in microgravity, and more, underscoring the mission’s importance for humanity on and off Earth.
During a video call with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy on Wednesday, Wilmore and Williams opened up about their unexpected circumstances.
Williams candidly remarked: “Yeah, eventually we want to go home, because we left our families a little while ago, but we have a lot to do while we’re up here.”
As the astronauts prepare for spacewalks and other critical activities, their professionalism and resilience continue to shine, even as they eagerly anticipate reuniting with their families in the spring.
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