Last Updated:
Sunita Williams described the experience as a “rollercoaster” and highlighted the emotional toll it has taken on those awaiting her return.
Sunita Williams acknowledged the unplanned extended stay but emphasised that every day spent in space was exhilarating. (PTI File)
NASA’s Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, who has been stranded in space for over nine months along with Butch Wilmore recently revealed the hardest part of her prolonged stay at International Space Station (ISS).
While speaking at a press conference from space, Williams said that the most challenging part of the extended mission the uncertainty of returning home for her and those waiting for her on Earth.
Read More: ‘Woman With Wild Hair’: Trump’s Epithet For Astronaut Sunita Williams In ISS Evacuation Plan Update
“The hardest part is having the folks on the ground not know exactly when we’re coming back. It’s been a rollercoaster for them – probably more so than for us,” she said.
She further described the experience as a “rollercoaster” and highlighted the emotional toll it has taken on those awaiting her return. “It’s been a rollercoaster for them probably a little bit more so than for us,” she remarked.
Williams, 59, and Wilmore went on what was meant to be an eight-day mission to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner in June 2024. However, technical issues including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions meant that the Starliner was unsafe for their return.
During their approach to the ISS, five of the 28 thrusters of the Starliner spacecraft carrying Williams and Wilmore failed, which extended their trip from days to months in space. Their extended delay fuelled health conditions as pictures showed Williams undergoing a drastic weight loss.
In January, Wilmore and Williams said their spirits were still high, adding that they had plenty of food and were enjoying their time on the space station.
When Will They Return To Earth?
The duo, who initially embarked on a 10-day mission aboard the Boeing Starliner, are expected to return to Earth on March 16, the space agency said on Friday.
In a press briefing, Nasa’s ISS program manager Dana Weigel explained that since Crew-9 was launching with two astronauts, it was sensible to accommodate Williams and Wilmore for the long-duration mission. On the other hand, Crew-10 is set to launch on March 12 from Kennedy Space Centre (KSC) with Nasa astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA’s Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos’ Kirill Peskov.
Read More: Stranded Astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore To Return To Earth On This Date
Initially assigned to a new Crew Dragon, Crew-10 will now fly aboard the Endurance capsule due to delays in the new spacecraft’s construction.
Donald Trump’s Message For Astronauts
US President Donald Trump during a press briefing in the Oval Office, sent a message for the two NASA astronauts, “We love you and we’re coming up to get you.”
Trump further blamed the delayed rescue operation on the former Biden administration, stating, “You shouldn’t have been up there so long. The most incompetent president in our history has allowed that to happen to you, but this president won’t let it happen.”
Billionaire Elon Musk further claimed that the astronauts were being left in space “for political reasons.”
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
