{"id":2340997,"date":"2024-09-13T21:38:56","date_gmt":"2024-09-14T01:38:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/astronauts-stuck-in-space-release-first-public-comment-since-rejecting-boeings-return-capsule-as-too-risky\/"},"modified":"2024-09-13T21:46:51","modified_gmt":"2024-09-14T01:46:51","slug":"astronauts-stuck-in-space-release-first-public-comment-since-rejecting-boeings-return-capsule-as-too-risky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/astronauts-stuck-in-space-release-first-public-comment-since-rejecting-boeings-return-capsule-as-too-risky\/","title":{"rendered":"Astronauts Stuck in Space Release First Public Comment Since Rejecting Boeing&#8217;s Return Capsule as Too Risky"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fastronauts-stuck-in-space-release-first-public-comment-since-rejecting-boeings-return-capsule-as-too-risky%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2340997&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni \u200bWilliams recently expressed their challenges of being stranded in space after\u200d their Boeing Starliner capsule returned without\u2064 them. Initially launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in June, the duo was forced to remain in orbit due to the capsule&#8217;s issues, making what was expected to be an eight-day\u2064 mission extend to\u2063 over eight months. They acknowledged the difficulties of watching the capsule depart without them, but emphasized their\u2063 adaptability as space\u200c station crew members, contributing to maintenance and experiments aboard the ISS.<\/p>\n<p>Williams is set to take command of the ISS soon, and \u2062both astronauts welcomed a recent crew addition, temporarily increasing their numbers to \u200ctwelve on the station. They\u2064 shared their gratitude for the support from those on\u2063 Earth while also expressing personal concerns about missing important family moments <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/big-news-coming-out-of-pennsylvania-trump-tweets-very-big-illegal-ballot-drop\/\" title=\"\u201cBig News Coming Out Of Pennsylvania\u201d- Trump Tweets: \u201cVery Big Illegal Ballot Drop\u201d\">back home<\/a>, such as the end of high school for Wilmore&#8217;s daughter.<\/p>\n<p>The Starliner mission was \u2063Boeing&#8217;s first with\u200b astronauts and encountered several technical issues during its preparation. The astronauts remain optimistic about their roles as test pilots\u200d and are focused on completing their mission while looking forward to future flying opportunities. Despite Boeing&#8217;s \u2062uncertainties in NASA\u2019s\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rumored-biden-nom-for-nasa-administrator-out-of-touch-experts-say\/\" title=\"Rumored Biden Nom for NASA Administrator Out of Touch, Experts Say\">commercial crew program<\/a>, both astronauts\u2064 underscored the importance of their civic duties, including voting from space.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Stuck-in-space astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams said Friday it&rsquo;s been tough dealing with their Boeing ride leaving without them and the prospect of spending several extra months in orbit.<\/p>\n<p>It was their first public comment since last week&rsquo;s return of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-boeing-bring-starliner-capsule-back-earth-friday-without-astronauts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Boeing Starliner<\/a> capsule that took them to the International Space Station in June.<\/p>\n<p>They remained behind after NASA determined the problem-plagued capsule posed too much risk for them to ride back in.<\/p>\n<p>Their eight-day <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/astronauts-stuck-space-next-year-boeing-starliner-puts-horrifying-situation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mission<\/a> is now expected to last more than eight months.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It was trying at times. There were some tough times all the way through,&rdquo; Wilmore said from 260 miles up. As spacecraft pilots, &ldquo;you don&rsquo;t want to see it go off without you, but that&rsquo;s where we wound up.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>While they never expected to be up there nearly a year, as Starliner&rsquo;s first test pilots, they knew there could be problems that might delay their return.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s how things go in this business,&rdquo; Williams said.<\/p>\n<p>Wilmore and Williams are now full-fledged station crew members, chipping in on routine maintenance and experiments.<\/p>\n<p>Williams will take over command of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-slam-psakis-space-force-slight\/\" title=\"Republicans Slam Psaki\u2019s Space Force Slight\">space station<\/a> in a few more weeks, Wilmore told reporters during a news conference &mdash; only their second since blasting off from Florida on June 5.<\/p>\n<p>The duo, along with seven others on board, welcomed a Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russians and an American earlier this week, temporarily raising the station population to 12, a near record.<\/p>\n<p>Two more astronauts will fly up on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-nasa-decides-keep-2-astronauts-space-february-nixes-return-troubled-boeing-capsule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SpaceX<\/a> later this month; two capsule seats will be left empty for Wilmore and Williams for the return leg.<\/p>\n<p>The transition to station life was &ldquo;not that hard,&rdquo; since both had previous stints there, said Williams, who logged two long space station stays years ago.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is my happy place. I love being up here in space,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>Wilmore noted that if his adjustment wasn&rsquo;t instantaneous, it was &rdquo;pretty close.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The astronauts said they appreciate all the prayers and well wishes from strangers back home, and that it&rsquo;s helped them cope with everything they&rsquo;ll miss out on back home.<\/p>\n<p>Williams couldn&rsquo;t help but fret for a while over losing precious face-to-face time with her mother.<\/p>\n<p>Wilmore won&rsquo;t be around for his youngest daughter&rsquo;s final year of high school.<\/p>\n<p>He just requested an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/election-integrity-win-judge-kills-dems-absentee-ballot-plot-mi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">absentee ballot<\/a> on Friday so he can vote in the November election from orbit.<\/p>\n<p>Both stressed the importance of carrying out their civic duties as their mission goes on.<\/p>\n<p>Their Starliner capsule marked the first Boeing spaceflight with astronauts. It endured a series of thruster failures and helium leaks before arriving at the space station on June 6.<\/p>\n<p>It landed safely in the New Mexico desert earlier this month, but Boeing&rsquo;s path forward in NASA&rsquo;s commercial crew program remains uncertain.<\/p>\n<p>The space agency hired <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/boeing-staffers-humiliated-elon-musks-spacex-steps-save-stranded-astronauts-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SpaceX<\/a> and Boeing as an orbital taxi service a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-trust-in-fake-news-mainstream-media-at-all-time-low\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Trust in Fake News Mainstream Media at ALL-TIME LOW\">decade ago<\/a> after the shuttles retired. SpaceX has been flying astronauts since 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Williams said she&rsquo;s excited to fly two different spacecraft on the same mission. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re testers, that&rsquo;s what we do,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We wanted to take Starliner to the completion and land it back on land at home,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;But you have to turn the page and look at the next opportunity.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><em>The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute&rsquo;s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stuck in space, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams expressed on Friday the challenges they are facing after their Boeing spacecraft departed without them, leading to the possibility of spending several additional months in orbit. This was their first public statement following last week&#8217;s return of the Boeing Starliner capsule, which had transported them to the International Space Station in June. They were unable to return with it after NASA assessed that the troubled capsule posed too great a risk for their journey back. Their eight-day mission is now anticipated to extend beyond eight months. &#8220;It has been difficult at times; there have been some challenging moments throughout,&#8221; Wilmore remarked from 260 miles above Earth. As pilots of a spacecraft, &#8220;you don\u2019t want to see it leave without you, but that\u2019s what happened.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Although they never expected such an extended stay as Starliner&#8217;s inaugural test pilots, they were aware that issues could arise causing delays in their return. &#8220;That\u2019s just how things work in this field,&#8221; Williams noted. Now fully integrated as crew members aboard the station, both are involved in routine maintenance and experiments; Williams is set to take command of the space station soon, according to Wilmore during a news conference\u2014only their second since launching from Florida on June 5.<\/p>\n<p>The pair welcomed a Soyuz spacecraft earlier this week carrying two Russian astronauts and one American, temporarily increasing the station&#8217;s population to 12\u2014a near record high. Two more astronauts are scheduled to arrive via SpaceX later this month; two seats will be reserved for Wilmore and Williams for their eventual return trip. The transition into life aboard the station was relatively smooth for both since they had previous experience there; Williams mentioned her fondness for being in space: &#8220;This is my happy place.&#8221; While Wilmore&#8217;s adjustment wasn&#8217;t immediate, he described it as &#8220;pretty close.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>They expressed gratitude for all the prayers and well-wishes from people back home which have helped them cope with what they&#8217;ll miss while away. Williams shared her concern about missing valuable time with her mother face-to-face while Wilmore noted he would not be present for his youngest daughter&#8217;s final year of high school\u2014he even requested an absentee ballot so he can vote from orbit during November&#8217;s election.<\/p>\n<p>Both emphasized fulfilling their civic responsibilities despite being on this mission. Their Starliner capsule represented Boeing&#8217;s first crewed flight but faced multiple thruster failures and helium leaks before reaching the space station on June 6th; it successfully landed back on Earth earlier this month in New Mexico but Boeing\u2019s future within NASA\u2019s commercial crew program remains uncertain.<\/p>\n<p>NASA contracted both SpaceX and Boeing as orbital taxi services about ten years ago following shuttle retirements; SpaceX has been transporting astronauts since 2020. Excited about flying two different spacecraft during one mission, Williams stated: \u201cWe\u2019re testers\u2014that\u2019s our role.\u201d She added that while they aimed to complete Starliner\u2019s journey by landing it at home base, it&#8217;s important now \u201cto turn the page\u201d towards new opportunities ahead<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2340998,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/b6d68fd30343432d80a9ba388d2f9f99-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[20139,14922,40886,8390,5088],"class_list":["post-2340997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-astronauts","tag-boeing","tag-public-comment","tag-safety","tag-space"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/b6d68fd30343432d80a9ba388d2f9f99-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2340997","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2340997"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2340997\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2340998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2340997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2340997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2340997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}