Astronauts Left Behind by Boeing Capsule Speak Out

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Astronauts stranded in space said Friday it was difficult to watch their Boeing capsule return to Earth without them.

This was their first public statement since the capsule that transported them to the International Space Station in June returned to Earth last week. The astronauts were left behind after NASA determined the capsule’s recurring problems made it unsafe for them to return in.

“That’s how it goes in this business,” said Williams, adding that “you have to turn the page and look at the next opportunity.”

Wilmore and Williams are now fully integrated members of the space station crew, contributing to routine maintenance and experiments. They, along with seven other crew members, welcomed a Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russians and an American earlier this week, temporarily increasing the station’s population to 12, nearly a record.

Transitioning to station life was “not that hard” since both had previous stints there, said Williams, who will soon assume the role of station commander.

“This is my happy place. I love being up here in space,” she said.

The two Starliner test pilots — both retired Navy captains and veteran NASA astronauts — will remain at the orbiting laboratory until late February. They are waiting for a SpaceX capsule to bring them back. This spacecraft is scheduled to launch later this month with a reduced crew of two, leaving two empty seats for Wilmore and Williams on the return flight.

The duo expressed their gratitude for the prayers and well wishes they received from people around the world. Wilmore mentioned he will miss out on family milestones, such as being present for his youngest daughter’s final year of high school.

Their Starliner capsule marked the inaugural Boeing spaceflight with astronauts. It faced a series of thruster failures and helium leaks before reaching the space station on June 6. It landed safely in the New Mexico desert earlier this month, but Boeing’s future in NASA’s commercial crew program remains uncertain.

The space agency hired SpaceX and Boeing a decade ago as an orbital taxi service after the retirement of the space shuttles. SpaceX has been transporting astronauts since 2020.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.