WHO’S COUNTING? RIGHT. WELL. WE ARE. IT’S BEEN 217 DAYS SINCE JUNE 5TH. THE DAY THE FIRST CREWED STARLINER VESSEL LAUNCHED. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN 8 TO 10 DAY MISSION. AND NOW, HALF A YEAR LATER, THE CREW IS OPTIMISTIC, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO COMING HOME THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE’RE ALSO HEARING FROM THE BOEING STARLINER ASTRONAUTS FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, WAITING TO COME BACK HOME FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. THEY’RE SET TO MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO EARTH THIS SPRING AFTER ISSUES WITH THE BOEING SPACECRAFT DELAYED THEIR RETURN. WESH 2’S TONY ATKINS WAS THERE THE DAY THE CREW TOOK OFF FROM THE SPACE COAST IN JUNE. THE STARLINER CREW BLASTED OFF ON JUNE 5TH. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN 8 TO 10 DAY MISSION, A TEST FLIGHT OF BOEING’S SPACECRAFT, AND NOW, MORE THAN HALF A YEAR LATER, THE CREW SAYS THEY’RE OPTIMISTIC TO COME BACK, BUT THEY’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT RETURN. WOULD YOU PUT TO REST FOR THE FINAL TIME? AND I HOPE YOU NEVER HAVE TO ANSWER IT AGAIN. JUST HOW YOU ALL ARE DOING. WE WORE SOME CLOTHES FOR A WHILE, BUT THAT DOESN’T BOTHER US. A NEW YEAR CHECK IN. NASA LEADERS TOOK A VIDEO CALL WITH SEVERAL OF ITS ASTRONAUTS AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ON WEDNESDAY. WE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUE WITH WEARING CLOTHES FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME. NOW WE HAVE PLENTY OF CLOTHES. WE ARE WELL FED. I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE EVER, EVER EAT AS MUCH AS DON PETTIT CAN EAT IN THAT GROUP. SUNI WILLIAMS AND BUTCH WILMORE, WHO ARRIVED AT THE ES ABOARD BOEING’S FIRST CREWED STARLINER SPACE CAPSULE. NOW, THE DUO IS COMING BACK ALONGSIDE SPACEX’S CREW NINE, FOLLOWING A VEHICLE COMPLICATIONS AND SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE BOEING CAPSULE. WE’VE GOT A WHOLE TEAM UP HERE, SO WE’RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT, AND THERE’S A LOT TO DO AS WELL WITH THE TEAM ON THE GROUND. IN THE MEANTIME, THE ASTRONAUTS ARE WORKING, DOING EXPERIMENTS TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE TIME AND OPPORTUNITY. WE’RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE CREATE LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE BEYOND EARTH ORBIT, THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO CONTINUALLY RESUPPLY? AND THOUGH THIS WASN’T NEARLY THE PLAN BACK IN JUNE, THEY SAY THEY ARE FOCUSED ON THE TASKS AT HAND AND THEY CAN’T WAIT TO COME BACK TO MOTHER EARTH. NO, IT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE WE’RE CASTAWAY. YEAH, EVENTUALLY WE WANT TO GO HOME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE LEFT OUR FAMILIES A LITTLE WHILE AGO, BUT BUT WE HAVE A LOT TO DO WHILE WE’RE UP HERE. AND WE GOT TO GET ALL THAT STUFF DONE BEFORE WE GO HOME. NASA SAYS THE CREW IS SET TO COME BACK NO LATER THAN MARCH. I’M COVERING SPACEX I
‘We want to come home’: Boeing Starliner astronauts reflect on delayed return to Earth
Updated: 6:36 AM EST Jan 9, 2025
The Boeing Starliner astronauts who are awaiting their return from the International Space Station (ISS) spoke with NASA leaders Wednesday. The crew, originally slated for a brief mission, is set to make their way back to Earth this spring after delays caused by issues with the Boeing spacecraft.The Starliner crew launched on June 5, marking the first manned test flight of Boeing’s space capsule. The mission was initially planned to last 8 to 10 days, but more than six months later, the astronauts remain optimistic about their extended stay aboard the ISS.Related: Boeing’s uncrewed Starliner spacecraft returns to Earth with successful landing in New Mexico”We wore some clothes for a while, but that doesn’t bother us,” astronaut Butch Wilmore said during a recent video call with NASA leaders. “Now we have plenty of clothes. We’re well-fed. I’ve never seen anyone eat as much as Don Petit can eat.”The call provided a New Year update on the crew, which includes astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who arrived aboard Boeing’s Starliner. The pair will return alongside SpaceX’s Crew-9 team following safety concerns with the Starliner spacecraft.Despite the extended mission, the astronauts are focused on their work, conducting experiments and advancing NASA’s goals for space exploration. “We’re trying to figure out how to create life support systems that are sustainable beyond Earth’s orbit, so we don’t have to continually resupply,” said Crew-9 astronaut Nick Hague.The Starliner astronauts emphasized they are not worried about the delays, thanks to the support of their ground teams. “We have a whole team up here, so we aren’t worried about that,” Williams said. “There’s a lot to do with the team on the ground.”While the mission has gone far beyond its original timeline, the astronauts remain committed to their tasks. “No, it doesn’t feel like ‘Castaway,'” Williams added. “Eventually, we want to come home. We left our families a little while ago, but we have a lot to do up here, and we’ve got to get all that stuff done before we get home.”NASA has confirmed the crew is now scheduled to return to Earth in late March.Previous coverage:NASA and Boeing monitoring 3 helium leaks on Starliner ahead of ISS dockingBoeing’s historic Starliner mission scrubbed over mechanical issues; officials targeting new launch dateCould 2 NASA astronauts be stuck at the space station until next year? Here’s what to know
The Boeing Starliner astronauts who are awaiting their return from the International Space Station (ISS) spoke with NASA leaders Wednesday.
The crew, originally slated for a brief mission, is set to make their way back to Earth this spring after delays caused by issues with the Boeing spacecraft.
The Starliner crew launched on June 5, marking the first manned test flight of Boeing’s space capsule. The mission was initially planned to last 8 to 10 days, but more than six months later, the astronauts remain optimistic about their extended stay aboard the ISS.
Related: Boeing’s uncrewed Starliner spacecraft returns to Earth with successful landing in New Mexico
“We wore some [of the same] clothes for a while, but that doesn’t bother us,” astronaut Butch Wilmore said during a recent video call with NASA leaders. “Now we have plenty of clothes. We’re well-fed. I’ve never seen anyone eat as much as [fellow astronaut] Don Petit can eat.”
The call provided a New Year update on the crew, which includes astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who arrived aboard Boeing’s Starliner. The pair will return alongside SpaceX’s Crew-9 team following safety concerns with the Starliner spacecraft.
Despite the extended mission, the astronauts are focused on their work, conducting experiments and advancing NASA’s goals for space exploration. “We’re trying to figure out how to create life support systems that are sustainable beyond Earth’s orbit, so we don’t have to continually resupply,” said Crew-9 astronaut Nick Hague.
The Starliner astronauts emphasized they are not worried about the delays, thanks to the support of their ground teams. “We have a whole team up here, so we aren’t worried about that,” Williams said. “There’s a lot to do with the team on the ground.”
While the mission has gone far beyond its original timeline, the astronauts remain committed to their tasks. “No, it doesn’t feel like ‘Castaway,'” Williams added. “Eventually, we want to come home. We left our families a little while ago, but we have a lot to do up here, and we’ve got to get all that stuff done before we get home.”
NASA has confirmed the crew is now scheduled to return to Earth in late March.
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