Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore gave an update on their mission Friday, about one week since the Starliner space capsule returned to Earth without them.
The astronauts spoke live from the International Space Station, where they have been since June after launching aboard the long-delayed Starliner space capsule.
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The capsule suffered thruster failures and helium leaks, which left the astronauts’ return in limbo for months.
Ultimately, the decision was made to return the capsule to Earth uncrewed, leaving Wilmore and Williams aboard the space station until at least February, when they will return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
“That’s how it goes in this business,” said Williams, adding that “you have to turn the page and look at the next opportunity.”
Wilmore and Williams are now full-fledged station crew members, chipping in on routine maintenance and experiments. They along with seven others on board welcomed a Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russians and an American earlier this week, temporarily raising the station population to 12, a near record.
The transition to station life was “not that hard” since both had previous stints there, said Williams, who will soon take over as station commander.
“This is my happy place. I love being up here in space,” she said.
Their SpaceX ride won’t launch until the end of this month.
Read further from Marcia Dunn with the Associated Press.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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