NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams addressed the media for the first time following the departure of the Boeing Starliner from the International Space Station (ISS) without their presence. During a press briefing from the ISS on Friday, they shared insights into their experience with the unpredictability of their return journey aboard the Starliner and the unexpected extension of their mission duration from eight days to eight months.
Wilmore expressed that the situation was challenging at times, acknowledging some tough moments throughout the ordeal. “As the commander and pilot of the spacecraft, it’s disheartening to see it leave without you. Yet, that was our reality,” he remarked.
He also took a moment to appreciate the public and media’s concern for their safety during this period. “We genuinely appreciate the outpouring of support. It has been heartwarming to see the concern for our well-being,” he added.
Williams mentioned that they were adjusting well to life aboard the space station. Both are skilled in mechanical tasks and have found numerous ways to contribute to the maintenance and repairs needed on the ISS. She shared her excitement about familiarizing herself with the Crew Dragon, which is currently docked and will be their eventual means of returning home. “We’re thrilled to be pilots of two different spacecraft. Testing is part of our job,” she said enthusiastically.
When asked about his feelings towards Boeing regarding the issues with the Starliner, Wilmore dismissed any disappointment. “Not at all,” he stated. “We anticipated that we would encounter problems before launch. That’s inherent in the test process. Every initial test flight, whether for a spacecraft or an aircraft, uncovers issues. A significant portion of our training is devoted to handling surprises.”
The two astronauts are set to remain at the ISS until early next year, at which point they will return home via a SpaceX Crew Dragon, joining the other Crew-9 mission members.
Furthermore, Williams is preparing to take on the role of commander for the space station during a particularly busy phase. Currently, there are nine crew members aboard the ISS, along with three newcomers who arrived this week via a Russian Soyuz spacecraft — two cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut.
In addition to the activities aboard the ISS, three Chinese astronauts are stationed on China’s Tiangong space station, and four members of the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission are currently on a Crew Dragon flight, two of whom recently completed the world’s first commercial spacewalk.
This brings the total number of individuals in space to 19, setting a new record, surpassing the previous count of 17.