Space is her “happy place” – even if she is stuck there indefinitely.
That’s what Michael, the husband of astronaut Sunita Williams, told the Wall Street Journal about his wife’s current predicament: She was stuck on the International Space Station with her fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore because there were problems with their Boeing Starliner.
When the Starliner capsule launched on June 5, Williams and Wilmore expected to spend only eight days in space.
But now NASA says its mission could last eight months, with a possible return in February.
The Boeing spacecraft was plagued by engine failures and helium leaks, requiring teams to conduct tests in space to determine if the capsule was flightworthy.
NASA may be forced to launch a rescue mission, possibly involving Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Williams and Wilmore live on the ISS with seven other astronauts.
They typically spend their days conducting scientific research and maintaining the spacecraft – and also producing educational content, such as answering live questions from students and schoolchildren, the Wall Street Journal reported.
They try to prevent the bone and muscle loss typical of space travel by training for several hours a day, and their vital functions are monitored from the ground.
Wilmore’s family is also relaxed about his long time in space.
“You know, we probably don’t expect him until February, February or March,” said Wilmore’s wife, Deanna.
Wilmore, a graduate of the University of Tennessee, lives in Texas with his wife and two teenage daughters, Daryn and Logan.
Wilmore’s family says they keep in touch with him via Facetime several times most days.
“It’s so cool, it gives us a lot of views of the Earth, I especially like watching the sunset,” Daryn Wilmore told WVLT in Nashville.
