Eight days Eight months. That’s how long Middle Tennessee native Butch Wilmore and fellow astronaut Suni Williams will spend in space after their original week-long mission in June was extended due to mechanical issues with the Boeing Starliner they were using.
NASA officials provided an update on Saturday, Aug. 24 outlining its plan for the crew’s journey back to Earth. The empty Starliner will travel unmanned, likely in September, while Wilmore and Williams remain at the International Space Station until the SpaceX Dragon capsule returns home in February. NASA cut two members from SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, which lifts off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday, Sept. 24, to make room for the two astronauts.
Are you left with more questions than answers? We had a few ourselves. These are some of the FAQs we’ve seen floating around:
Is this a record number of days spent in space?
In short, no. According to Space.com, astronauts spend an average of six months at the ISS for experiments and maintenance — though extended missions exist due to long-term experiments and unforeseen circumstances.
How are they passing the time?
NASA Station Manager Dana Weigel says the pair have already put in 100 hours assisting on 42 projects and will also help undock the Starliner. Free time is limited, but astronauts spend a couple hours a day working out and will occasionally pick up a hobby like sewing — or even guest announcing for the Grand Ole Opry.
How much space is there in space?
Currently? Less than usual. The ISS, which is equipped for six people, is housing nine. Time reported that Wilmore is left catching Z’s in a sleeping bag in the Japanese Space Agency’s Kibo module. As for stretching their legs, that’s where exercise routines come in. See some of the equipment they use.
Is there enough to eat?
Earlier this month, NASA sent a resupply spacecraft carrying 8,000+ pounds of new clothes, food, and fuel.
That question in particular got us thinking. If you could send Wilmore a localized care package, what would you include? Let us know.
