How 2 Astronauts Caught in House Spend Their Time Ready for Rescue

The 2 astronauts, who’ve been caught in house since earlier this summer season and should not return to Earth till subsequent yr, are discovering inventive methods to cross the time.

Butch Wilmore, 61, and Suni Williams, 58, have been in house since June 5, when their Boeing Starliner blasted off for what was imagined to be an eight-day mission. However the orbiter began experiencing issues shortly afterward that put their return to Earth in jeopardy.

With their date of return in limbo, the veteran astronauts have been bunking with seven others already on the Worldwide House Station, the place house is tight, particularly at night time.

For the reason that ISS solely has six non-public enclosures, Wilmore is utilizing a sleeping bag within the Japanese House Company’s Kibo module, Time reported.

“Butch goes to need to tough it slightly bit,” Williams advised Time earlier than the orbiter launched, when the journey was imagined to final simply over one week.

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Along with their impromptu sleeping preparations, the astronauts have been at first compelled to ration their garments since they solely introduced sufficient for the unique size of the mission.

Earlier this month, nonetheless, an 8,200-lb. resupply spacecraft arrived on the ISS to ship new garments in addition to meals and gasoline, in keeping with NASA.

In the meantime, Williams has discovered time to maintain up her health whereas ready for NASA’s subsequent steps.

The Massachusetts native ran the seven-mile Falmouth Highway Race on Sunday, Aug. 18, whereas in a harness on a treadmill, the Cape Cod Occasions reported.

The avid runner beforehand ran the identical race from house in 2012 and likewise ran the Boston Marathon in 2007 throughout a mission.

The duo can be serving to the opposite astronauts aboard the ISS conduct experiments, together with one involving its urine processing pump, in keeping with House.com.

In a NASA replace on Tuesday, Aug. 20, the house company mentioned Wilmore and Williams could have to attend till February 2025 to come back dwelling aboard the SpaceX Crew-9 mission.