NASA Astronauts Stranded in Space Reveal First Statement After Weeks on the ISS
Two NASA astronauts, stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after traveling there with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, have finally broken their silence. After weeks of awaiting their return to Earth, the astronauts expressed confidence in their eventual safe return during a recent press briefing. Read on for the latest updates on their situation.
NASA astronauts were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) with aerospace company Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
The astronauts, who were launched on June 5th, were expected to return to Earth at the end of June. However, helium leaks occurred in the vehicle during the journey to the space station.
The return of two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, was delayed, leaving them stranded at the Space Station for weeks.
In a press conference, the astronauts expressed their belief that they would return to Earth, stating, 'We have a good feeling that the spacecraft will bring us home without any issues.'
Officials mentioned that the return date depends on data and tests, indicating that the astronauts could return at the earliest by the end of July.
The two astronauts, who said they were not complaining about spending extra time in orbit, also mentioned that they were helping the station crew. They revealed that they detected malfunctions in the spacecraft's thrusters and managed manual control for over an hour thanks to their experience and training.
Starliner was expected to be a major competitor to Elon Musk's SpaceX.
When the Starliner project started, the budget exceeded by 1.5 million dollars. The company, which fell behind schedule, also faced significant issues in Boeing's commercial flight business due to malfunctioning aircraft in recent months.
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