Who are the Boeing Starliner astronauts stuck in space
They’re outer this world.
It’s been almost six months since technical issues stranded NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams onboard the International Space Station.
Since their Boeing shuttle malfunctioned in June, what was supposed to be just a short eight-day trip has turned into another disaster for the aerospace manufacturer — as the astronauts have many more weeks in limbo before returning home.
Technical problems have stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams onboard the ISS. NASA/AFP via Getty Images
More recently, a pulmonologist told the told the Daily Mail that recent photos of Williams show concerning signs regarding her physique.
“What you’re seeing … is somebody that I think is experiencing the natural stresses of living at a very high altitude, even in a pressurized cabin, for extended periods,” Gupta said. “Her cheeks appear a bit sunken — and usually it happens when you’ve had sort of total body weight loss.”
This could be due to the impacts of life in space, resulting in her burning more calories than she is consuming as astronauts are urged to eat well above average at about 3,500 calories per day — mostly of meat — because of high exercise and activity.
Experts have warned that extended time in space can have negative effects on the body. NASA/Roscosmos / SWNS
“Her body’s probably working harder to do basic things, because the partial pressure of oxygen is lower than it would be on sea level.”
Who is Suni Wiliams?
Williams is a 59-year-old astronaut from Euclid, Ohio who has flown two prior missions to the ISS in the mid-2000s and early 2010s before re-embarking into space last June. She has previously worked with robotics onboard the ISS.
Who is Butch Wilmore?
Barry “Butch” Wilmore is another seasoned astronaut who has flown two space missions in the late 2,000s and mid-2010s where he has done several spacewalks. The 61-year-old hails from Helenwood, Tennessee.
Have long have they been in space before?
Both Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have lots of experience in space. AP
Both seasoned astronauts have spent lengthy cumulative durations in space, according to NASA. During her first mission, Williams, who has spent a total of 322 days in space, set a female record at the time for four spacewalks that totaled 29 hours and 17 minutes.
Wilmore has had 178 days total in space.
Why are they stuck in space?
On June 6, both astronauts were the first manned crew on a Boeing Starliner capsule. However, a week after docking with the ISS, the capsule began to undergo thruster failures and helium leaks that sent their mission into lengthy delays.
In August, NASA opted to have the shuttle return to Earth without the personnel on board.
What’s the plan to get them back to Earth?
Williams and Wilmore will not be returning to Earth for months. AP
NASA’s current plan is for a SpaceX Dragon craft running tests at the ISS to pick up Wilmore and Williams — but not until this coming February.
Has anyone been stuck on the International Space Station before?
While Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub hold the record for most time spent on board the ISS at 374 days, there have been other instances of missions being significantly delayed — resulting in astronauts stuck onboard.
In 2003, when the Columbia shuttle disastrously and fatally disintegrated re-entering Earth, it kept NASA astronauts Ken Bowersox and Don Pettit on board for 161 total days, or about 30% longer than anticipated, Astronomy.com reported.
There is precident for astronauts like Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore needing to spend extended time onboard the ISS. AP
Later in 2017, a reduction in the amount of Russian cosmonauts onboard the ISS resulted to NASA extending astronaut Peggy Whitson from a sixth-month mission to one closer to ten months.
Later in 2019, Christina Koch put 11 months onboard the ISS instead of her planned six months after she gave up her seat back home for a visiting astronaut from the United Arab Emirates.
