NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore have reached their six-month milestone of being stranded on the Worldwide House Station, regardless of initially planning to remain for simply eight days. And now, one among their fellow astronauts has snapped a photograph from the Twilight Zone.
No, not the well-known Rod Serling TV present. On Saturday, astronaut Don Pettit shared a photograph of some very cool clouds, with an evidence as to why he is calling it the Twilight Zone.
“Dwelling within the twilight zone,” Pettit mentioned. “Our orbit at @Space_Station is now aligned with Earth’s day-night shadow, so we see neither full day nor full evening. That is the very best time to {photograph} clouds below low-angle lighting. “
However Williams and Wilmore, who’re as a result of return dwelling to Earth in 2025, do not feel like their prolonged keep has fallen below darkish clouds.
“I really like the whole lot about being right here,” Williams mentioned Wednesday. “Dwelling in area is tremendous enjoyable.”
Astronauts are busy, with Williams and Wilmore serving to different ISS residents with area botany research and different analysis, in accordance with NASA’s ISS weblog. They’ve assisted in additional than 60 scientific research of their practically six months on board, the Washington Submit reviews.
Here is what it’s essential to learn about what the 2 astronauts are as much as.
Who’re astronauts?
Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, are veteran astronauts and are each naval officers and former take a look at pilots. Williams has been a NASA astronaut since 1998, and Wilmore since 2000. Each have in depth expertise in area.
Williams is the previous file holder for many spacewalks by a girl (seven) and longest spacewalk time by a girl (50 hours, 40 minutes), and in 2007, she ran the marathon of seen by each particular person in area.
In 2009, Wilmore piloted the area shuttle Atlantis on its mission to the ISS, and in 2014, he was a part of the ISS crew that used a 3D printer to provide a instrument — a ratchet wrench — in area, the the primary time people produced one thing exterior the world.
What was their unique mission in area?
Wilmore, as commander, and Williams, as pilot, traveled to the ISS in a 15-meter-wide, Boeing-made capsule referred to as the Starliner. They launched on June 5 and docked with the ISS on June 6. NASA hopes the Starliner will give the group a brand new option to get crews to and from the ISS, and the truth that it is made by Boeing is one other signal that NASA is beginning to lean on the personal sector for its human flight choices. in area, The New York Occasions reported.
Wilmore and Williams’ ISS mission was to final simply eight days, throughout which they’d take a look at facets of the Starliner and see the way it performs with a human crew in area. However as a result of issues with the Starliner, the 2 astronauts are nonetheless there and will not return till 2025.
What are astronauts consuming?
Meals on the ISS is a serious focus, as contemporary produce have to be replenished each three months with deliveries from Earth. On November 23, the unmanned Progress 90 spacecraft efficiently docked with the ISS. However the final supply of meals got here with an undesirable scent.
“After opening the Progress hatch, Roscosmos cosmonauts observed a sudden wind and noticed small droplets, prompting the crew to shut the Poisk hatch on the remainder of the Russian section,” a NASA consultant mentioned in an announcement. posted on social media.
“The area station’s air cleaners and pollutant sensors monitored the station’s environment after the commentary, and on Sunday, flight controllers decided that the air high quality contained in the area station was inside regular ranges,” NASA mentioned. “There isn’t any concern for the crew and as of Sunday afternoon, the crew is working to open the hatch between Poisk and Progress whereas all different area station operations are persevering with as deliberate.”
NASA revealed that their menu contains cereal with powdered milk, pizza, shrimp cocktails, baked hen and tuna.
The scent that got here together with the shuttle is not the one food-related concern of late, with some publications questioning the astronauts’ slim look based mostly on current pictures.
Dr. JD Polk, NASA’s chief of well being and medication, launched an official assertion saying Williams and Wilmore are positive. “NASA and our companions have been safely conducting long-duration missions aboard the orbiting laboratory for many years, learning the consequences of area on the human physique as we put together for exploration farther into the photo voltaic system,” Polk mentioned. “The well being of the crew is commonly monitored by devoted flight surgeons on Earth, and so they have a person food regimen and health regime to make sure they continue to be wholesome all through their expeditions.”
Williams mentioned she weighs the identical as she did when she arrived on the area station, in a video interview performed Nov. 12 on the ISS.
How they’ll return to Earth in early 2025
In June, two NASA astronauts landed on the ISS. In September, their broken Boeing Starliner capsule returned to Earth with out them for security causes.
The Starliner returned alone to White Sands House Harbor in New Mexico on September 6, and the spacecraft that may carry it dwelling — a SpaceX Dragon — arrived on the ISS on September 29. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov joined them aboard the area station on the late September arrival of the Dragon spacecraft. 4 crew members had been initially scheduled to be on board for the launch, however two stayed behind to make room for Wilmore and Williams’ return journey.
Wilmore and Williams can be introduced dwelling aboard the SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft early subsequent yr and “will proceed their work formally as a part of the Expedition 71/72 crew till February 2025,” the area company mentioned in an announcement. “They may fly dwelling on a Dragon spacecraft with two different crew members assigned to the company’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission.”
“Spaceflight is harmful, even within the most secure and most routine approach,” NASA Administrator Invoice Nelson mentioned in an Aug. 24 assertion. “A take a look at flight, by nature, is neither secure nor routine. The choice to maintain Butch and Suni aboard the Worldwide House Station and produce Boeing’s Starliner dwelling with out a crew is the results of our dedication to safety: our core worth and our North Star”.
What do astronauts say?
Astronauts have been optimistic about their expertise. In a reside press convention in September, Williams mentioned that regardless of understanding their mission was solely scheduled to final eight days, the 2 of them can be “coaching for a number of years” for it. They’re totally certified to remain in area for an prolonged time frame and assist pilot the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that may carry them dwelling subsequent yr.
“It’s extremely peaceable up right here,” Williams mentioned on Sept. 13, although she added that they missed their households on Earth.
Astronauts are engaged on analysis, upkeep and knowledge evaluation throughout their prolonged keep.
“We’re having a good time right here on the ISS,” Williams mentioned at a press convention held from orbit in July. “I am not complaining. Butch’s not complaining that we’re right here for a number of additional weeks.”
Wilmore and Williams answering media questions in March.
How did they get caught in area within the first place?
Starliner was delayed in Might as a result of an issue with a valve within the rocket. Then the engineers needed to repair a helium leak. That is dangerous information for Boeing. It’s competing with SpaceX, which has carried astronauts to the ISS since 2020, making over 20 profitable journeys to the area station.
The Starliner lastly launched atop an Atlas V rocket on June 5, however some issues got here with it. NASA introduced that three helium leaks had been recognized, one among which was identified earlier than the flight and two new ones. Along with the leaks, the crew needed to troubleshoot failed management thrusters, though the spacecraft was in a position to efficiently dock with the ISS.
SpaceX has additionally had failures. A Falcon 9 rocket exploded on the launch pad in 2016. In July of this yr, a Falcon 9 rocket skilled a liquid oxygen leak and put its satellites into the incorrect orbit, The New York Occasions reported. And a Falcon 9 rocket in late August misplaced a first-stage booster when it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean and burst into flames.
However that mentioned, SpaceX has greater than 300 profitable Falcon 9 flights to its credit score.
Caught in House: A Timeline
- Might: Starliner’s launch was delayed as a result of an issue with a valve within the rocket after which a helium leak.
- June 5: The Starliner departs with Williams and Wilmore on board.
- June 6: Starliner docks with the ISS regardless of experiencing three helium leaks and failed management thrusters.
- September 6: Starliner departs from the ISS and lands in New Mexico, leaving Williams and Wilmore behind.
- September 28: SpaceX Crew-9 mission launches with Hague and Gorbunov on a Dragon spacecraft.
- September 29: SpaceX Dragon docks with the ISS.
- February 2025 onwards: The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will return to Earth with Williams, Wilmore, Hague and Gorbunov.
