Indian-origin astronaut Sunitha Williams and fellow scientist Butch Wilmore left for the International Space Station on June 5 from the US state of Florida in the Starliner spacecraft. They reached the space station on June 6.
Originally announced that they would only be in space for a week, their return to Earth was complicated by a technical problem with the Boeing Starliner spaceship they were traveling in. Meanwhile, the news that Sunita Williams is ill has also caused great sadness.
In this case, the problems encountered in the Starliner spacecraft and Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, have been explained through a teleconference. At the time, NASA said the futures of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were uncertain.
NASA also said it is considering the possibility of keeping Williams and Wilmore on the International Space Station (ISS) until early 2025. And NASA said it is currently analyzing more information about Starliner’s performance and aims to finalize a decision by the end of next week or early next week.
Meanwhile, NASA’s chief astronaut Joe Acaba said Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams were handling the situation well. He also said that from his office he can now see them working on the International Space Station and that they are fully integrated with the ISS staff.
He also said that the situation is difficult for the team members and their families and they are taking it into consideration. But again, as professional astronauts, they’re ready to handle it and they’re doing a great job, says Agaba, NASA’s chief astronaut.
