Two American astronauts face the sudden prospect of spending Christmas and New Year in space.
When two American astronauts blasted off on a test mission to the International Space Station on 5 June, they were expecting to be back home in a matter of days.In fact, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams are still there, floating high above the Earth nearly two months later.
Problems, however, emerged as it made its approach. These included leaks in its propulsion system and some of its thrusters shutting down. "Our prime option is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner," Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said. "However, we have done the requisite planning to make sure we have other options open.”
That plan would mean the astronauts would spend more than eight months – rather than eight days – aboard the International Space Station. “We've been thoroughly busy up here, integrated right into the crew,” Ms Williams told reporters during a recent briefing call.
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