Veteran astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally returned to Earth after spending nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). In an exclusive Fox News interview, the duo opened up about their mission for the first time, discussing their reactions to learning they’d be staying longer than planned, their love for living in space, and what it means to serve their country.
When asked about their reaction to being delayed, Williams recalled thinking, “Let’s make the best of it.” She expressed her enthusiasm for spending months in orbit, witnessing scientific experiments unfold around her, and seeing changes made to the ISS.
For Wilmore, his focus was on the mission itself, reminding himself that it was not about him or his feelings but about what the human spaceflight program is about – national goals.
“We’ve trained them to be resilient,” Wilmore said, referring to his daughters and family. “We don’t know what’s going to happen, so we have to focus on the mission.”
The duo also discussed the technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which forced them to remain in orbit longer than planned. However, they emphasized that they didn’t blame Boeing or NASA, instead attributing the problems to a combination of factors.
“We’re not pointing fingers,” Wilmore said. “We want to look forward and learn from past mistakes.”
A rescue mission conducted by NASA and SpaceX helped bring the astronauts home on March 18. They expressed gratitude towards President Donald Trump and Elon Musk for their support, saying they respect and trust them.
“I’m grateful that our national leaders are taking an active role in our human spaceflight program,” Williams said. “It’s not just refreshing, it’s empowering for our nation.”
The astronauts’ nine-month orbit has provided a unique opportunity to showcase the importance of space exploration and its significance globally. As they prepare to discuss their mission during a post-flight news conference on April 1, they are confident in their experiences and eager to share them with the world.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts, including Wilmore and Williams, will be speaking at 2:30 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 31, from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/media/nasa-astronauts-butch-wilmore-suni-williams-give-first-interview-since-return-earth-fox-news-exclusive