NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore have reached the six-month milestone of being stranded on the Worldwide House Station, after initially planning to remain there for simply eight days. And now one in all their fellow astronauts has taken a photograph from the “Twilight Zone.”
No, not Rod Serling's well-known TV present. Saturday, astronaut Don Pettit shared a photo of some very cool clouds, with a proof of why he calls it the Twilight Zone.
“Dwelling within the Twilight Zone,” Pettit mentioned. “Our orbit on @Space_Station is now aligned with Earth's day-night shadow, so we see neither full day nor full evening. That is the most effective time to {photograph} clouds in low mild. »
However Willians and Wilmore, who’re anticipated to return to Earth in 2025, don't really feel like their prolonged keep has fallen underneath darkish clouds.
“I really like all the things about being right here.” Williams said Wednesday. “Dwelling in area is tremendous enjoyable.”
The astronauts are busy, with Williams and Wilmore serving to different ISS residents with area botany research and different analysis, according to NASA's ISS blog. They contributed to greater than 60 scientific research throughout their almost six-month keep on board, reports the Washington Post.
Right here's what you want to find out about what the 2 astronauts are as much as.
Who’re the astronauts?
Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, are veteran astronauts and are each naval officers and former check 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 spacewalk time by a girl (50 hours and 40 minutes), and in 2007 she ran the primary marathon by an individual in area.
In 2009, Wilmore piloted the House 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 make a instrument – a ratchet wrench – in area for the primary time. made one thing out of the world.
What was their preliminary mission in area?
Wilmore, as commander, and Williams, as pilot, traveled to the ISS aboard a 15-foot-wide capsule made by Boeing known as the Starliner. They had been launched on June 5 and docked with the ISS on June 6. NASA hopes Starliner will give the group a brand new technique to get crews to and from the ISS, and the truth that it's made by Boeing is one other signal that NASA is beginning to have a look at the ISS . on the non-public sector for its human spaceflight choices, The New York Occasions reported.
Wilmore and Williams' ISS mission was imagined to final simply eight days, throughout which they’d check elements of Starliner and see the way it works with a human crew in area. However on account of issues with Starliner, the 2 astronauts are nonetheless up there and gained't be again till 2025.
What do astronauts eat?
Meals aboard the ISS is a significant precedence, as contemporary produce should be restocked each three months with deliveries from Earth. On November 23, the Progress 90 unmanned resupply spacecraft efficiently docked with the ISS. However the final meals supply had an undesirable odor.
“After opening the hatch of the Progress spacecraft, Roscosmos cosmonauts seen an surprising odor and noticed small droplets, which prompted the crew to shut the Poisk hatch to the remainder of the Russian phase,” an announcement mentioned. The NASA representative said in an announcement posted on social media.
“The area station's air scrubbers and contaminant sensors monitored the station's ambiance after the statement, and on Sunday, flight controllers decided that the air high quality contained in the area station was at regular ranges,” NASA mentioned. “There are not any issues for the crew and since Sunday afternoon the crew has been engaged on opening the hatch between Poisk and Progress whereas all different area station operations are continuing as deliberate. “
NASA revealed that its menu consists of cereal with powdered milk, pizza, shrimp cocktails, roast hen and tuna.
The odor that accompanied the spacecraft isn't the one food-related concern recently, with some publications questioning the astronauts' slim look based mostly on latest images.
Dr. JD Polk, NASA's chief medical officer for well being and security, issued an official assertion saying Williams and Wilmore are doing very nicely. “NASA and our companions have safely carried out long-duration missions aboard the Orbiting Laboratory for many years, finding out the consequences of area on the human physique as we put together for exploration additional into the photo voltaic system.” , Polk mentioned. “The well being of the crew is usually monitored by devoted flight surgeons on Earth, and so they observe a person weight loss plan and health program to make sure they continue to be wholesome all through their expeditions .”
Williams mentioned she weighed the identical as when she reached the area station, in a video interview conducted on November 12 on the ISS.
How they may return to Earth in early 2025
In June, the 2 NASA astronauts landed on the ISS. In September, their defective Boeing Starliner capsule returned to Earth with out them for security causes.
The Starliner returned alone to the White Sands spaceport in New Mexico on September 6, and the spacecraft that can take them dwelling – a SpaceX Dragon — arrived at the ISS on September 29. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov joined them aboard the area station with the arrival of the Dragon spacecraft in late September. 4 crew members had been initially scheduled to be on board at launch, however two remained behind to make room for Wilmore and Williams' return journey.
Wilmore and Williams can be taken dwelling on SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft early subsequent yr and “will formally proceed their work as a part of the Expedition 71/72 crew till February 2025,” the area company mentioned. said in an announcement. “They may return dwelling aboard a Dragon spacecraft with two different crew members assigned to the company's SpaceX Crew-9 mission.”
“Spaceflight is dangerous, even at its most secure and most routine,” NASA Administrator Invoice Nelson mentioned in an Aug. 24 assertion. “A check flight, by its nature, is neither protected nor routine. The choice to maintain Butch and Suni aboard the Worldwide House Station and convey Boeing's Starliner dwelling with no crew is the results of our dedication to security: our core worth and our North Star.
What do the astronauts say?
The astronauts had been optimistic about their expertise. To a live press conference In September, Williams mentioned that though they knew their mission was solely imagined to final eight days, they’d each “educated for a number of years” for it. They’re totally certified to remain in area for an prolonged time frame and to assist pilot the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that can carry them dwelling subsequent yr.
“It’s very peaceable right here,” Williams mentioned on September 13, whereas including that they missed their households on Earth.
Astronauts work on analysis, upkeep and information evaluation throughout their prolonged keep.
“We're having a good time right here on the ISS,” Williams mentioned during a press conference detained from orbit in July. “I'm not complaining. Butch isn't complaining about us being right here for just a few additional weeks.”
Wilmore and Williams answering questions from the media in March.
How did they get caught in area within the first place?
THE Starliner was delayed in Could on account of an issue with a rocket valve. Engineers then needed to restore a helium leak. That is unhealthy information for Boeing. It’s in competition with SpaceXwho was transport astronauts to the ISS since 2020, making greater than 20 profitable journeys to the area station.
Starliner was lastly launched, atop an Atlas V rocket, on June 5, however some issues arose. NASA introduced that three helium leaks had been recognized, together with one recognized earlier than the flight, and two new ones. Along with the leaks, the crew needed to troubleshoot defective management thrusters, though the craft efficiently docked with the ISS.
SpaceX has additionally had failures. A The 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 deployed its satellites into the mistaken orbit, in keeping with the New York Occasions. reported. And in late August, a Falcon 9 rocket misplaced a primary stage booster when it overturned within the Atlantic Ocean and caught fire.
However that mentioned, SpaceX has greater than 300 successes Falcon 9 Flights to his honor.
Caught in House: A Timeline
- Could: the Starliner launch is delayed on account of a valve downside within the rocket, then a helium leak.
- June 5: Launch of the Starliner with Williams and Wilmore on board.
- June 6: Starliner docks with the ISS regardless of three helium leaks and defective management thrusters.
- September 6: Starliner leaves the ISS and lands in New Mexico, leaving Williams and Wilmore behind.
- September 28: Launch of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission with Hague and Gorbunov on a Dragon spacecraft.
- September 29: SpaceX Dragon docks with the ISS.
- From February 2025: The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will return to Earth with Williams, Wilmore, Hague and Gorbunov.
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