Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, their space trip has to the International Space Station (ISS) has extended to eight months due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
The astronauts are now set to return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon.
Amid the long and extended space voyage, it has not only become challenging for the space travellers but also their families back at earth may be worried about them.
However, Williams' family remains supportive and calm despite the unforeseen challenges. Michael J. Williams, her husband, and Bonnie Pandya, her mother, have both expressed confidence in her well-being and expertise.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal in August 2024, Michael Williams described the ISS as his wife's «happy place,» highlighting her comfort and dedication to her work in space.
Bonnie Pandya, known as an «astronaut mom,» also shared her perspective in an interview with NewsNation's Andrew Cuomo. «I don’t give her any advice. She knows what to do. She is a seasoned astronaut,» Pandya stated. She also mentioned that she spoke with Sunita two days prior, and her daughter reassured her that «everything’s going to be fine,» with a simple but reassuring message: «Don’t worry about me.»
The delay arose from several technical problems with the Starliner, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions. As a result, NASA has arranged for the astronauts to be brought back by a SpaceX capsule, with their return now scheduled
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