SpaceX to the rescue?

Originally set to return in mid-June, Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams may be on the station until February, 2025.

During a press conference today, NASA representatives confirmed they have a contingency plan to bring astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams home from the International Space Station (ISS) early next year. If they’re unable to leave sooner aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that brought them there

Tests conducted at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility pointed to deformed Teflon seals being a potential cause of the Starliner’s thrusters failing, but the agency isn’t expected to make a final decision on whether or not Williams and Wilmore will return using Boeing’s spacecraft until mid-August.

      • 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world
        0·
        3 months ago

        What if they want to spend a once in a lifetime opportunity on an international space station doing research for a year? Are you serious?

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
          0·
          3 months ago

          All I can think is you are single with no children. Because suggesting they don’t want to spend time with their kids makes them terrible parents and I hope you aren’t one if you feel that way.

          • 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world
            0·
            3 months ago

            I feel that way even with a partner and kids who has worked on an extended business trip for the SLS program alongside NASA employees.

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
              0·
              3 months ago

              “You don’t know if they want to see their families” is a really weird hill to die on, and an extended business trip isn’t the same as being in space. I think you know that.

              • 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world
                0·
                3 months ago

                You miss family, yes, but you keep in touch and enjoy the wild journey you’re on. How hard is this to understand? These people are not your typical humans. They are sacrificing a lot for the fantastic research they do. Its fine if you don’t agree with their sacrifice, but don’t put words into their mouths saying they want to come home if you cant show that they did say it.

                • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
                  0·
                  3 months ago

                  Of course they’re typical humans. They aren’t gods. They have the same chromosomes as the rest of us. And suggesting anyone wouldn’t really want to see their kids (and, you know, have sex) when they’re away weeks longer than they were told they would be is, again, a really weird hill to die on.