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Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore's extended stay in space, heres how their families are reacting

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore aboard the International Space Station, preparing for an extended mission after their return to Earth was delayed due to issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

Sunita Williams

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5 aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Initially scheduled to return to Earth within 8-10 days, their stay has been extended until February 2025 due to helium leaks and thruster issues that delayed their departure.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced that while the Starliner will return without its crew, Williams and Wilmore will come back to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule in February.

Nelson emphasized the inherent risks of spaceflight, stating that “space flight is risky even at its safest and even at its most routine,” and the decision to return the Starliner without the astronauts reflects NASA's commitment to safety, with "safety" being their core value.

As Williams and Wilmore prepare for an extended mission on the ISS, Sunita’s family has expressed little concern about the delay. Her husband, Michael J. Williams, described space as her “happy place” in an August 2024 interview with The Wall Street Journal. Similarly, her mother, Bonnie Pandya, expressed confidence in her daughter's ability to handle the situation, referring to her as a “seasoned astronaut” who has spent over 400 days in space.

In a conversation with NewsNation's Andrew Cuomo, Pandya shared that Sunita had reassured her not to worry, adding that "everything’s going to be fine." Meanwhile, Wilmore’s family has also remained calm about his extended time in space.

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