After nine months on the International Space Station (ISS), senior astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are finally back on Earth – they are open About their mission This is the exclusive Fox News interview aired Monday.
Sitting down with the co-host of the American Newsroom at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, the duo reflects on their time in orbit, their response to learning longer than planned, the future of space exploration and what it means to serve the nation in space.
“My first thought was that we just need a hub,” Williams said, recalling the moment the two learned that their return would be delayed.
“If our spacecraft is going home based on the decision here and we will be in ‘February to February, I think, ‘Let’s make the most of it.'”
Williams is somewhat “excited” about the prospect of spending months in orbit, and he is passionate about his love for living in space – witnessing “scientific experiments” unfold around them and seeing changes to the International Space Station since his last visit.
She added: “I’m honored to be a part of it.”
For Willmore, his reaction is focused on reminding himself that the task has nothing to do with him or how he feels.
They interviewed stranded astronauts for the first time since Fox News returned to Earth
Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer has conducted his first interview with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams since returning to the American Newsroom on Monday, March 31. (Fox News/Getty Images)
“This is about this human space program. This is our national goal,” He told Heimer.
“And I have to wrap up…my thoughts, what does my country need now? This goes back to when we were in the fleet, we operated from the tip of the spear…we are a tool for our country, our national goal. Did I think of not being in my daughter’s high school years?
Willmore went on to say that his family was forced to develop some resilience, which was an understanding of “test flight” that was not “given”.
“We don’t know what will happen,” he continued. “We probably won’t be back in eight days or any plans. Focus on that and focus on the task. Of course, [we] Handle it personal aspects, but I can’t let that moment interfere with what I’m asking for. ”
Wilmore and Williams Boeing Starliner spacecraft Have encountered technical problems.
The stranded astronauts prepare to return to Earth as long-awaited
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are flight crew members on Boeing’s Starliner capsules and are stuck in space for 286 days. (NASA)
NASA believes it is unsafe to send astronauts back to the spacecraft and returns to Earth in September.
The two told Heimer that they did not blame Boeing, and Wilmore called the space flight “hard”.
“This is the new technology we are working on, so when you put all of this together, it’s hard.”
Similarly, Williams said she would not describe the spacecraft’s problem as a “failure” to Boeing.
Wilmore disputes the narrative that he and Williams were “stayed” and “stuck”, telling Hemmer that everyone, including himself, was somehow the culprit.
“‘They’ failed. Who? Who is ‘they’?” he asked. As the commander of the CFT, there are a lot of questions that I didn’t ask, so I can admit…I don’t ask what I should ask. I didn’t know I needed to ask them at the time, that’s in hindsight, but, in this regard, are there some signals blamed? We did not foresee some of the shortcomings and shortcomings in the preparation work. ”
Wilmore added that he did not want to “point to the finger” but wanted to “look forward” and learn from past mistakes.
NASA and SpaceX’s rescue missions earlier this month helped astronauts take astronauts home on March 18.
Mission has pushed SpaceX and CEO Elon Musk even further attracted attention. Hemmer asked Wilmore and Williams what they wanted to say to Musk and the president Donald Trumpthey often call on the Biden administration to take them home without urgency.
“I respect you, I believe in you. There is no reason for you to distrust you, this is one of them…” Willmore replied.
“I’m glad our national leaders are actually participating in our human space flight program, and we think it’s a very important global meaning and they’ve played a positive role. Based on what they’ve seen in the past and present, they did…it’s not only refreshing, it’s a good thing for our country. I think it’s a good thing. I think it’s a capability. That.”
Click here to get the Fox News app
Williams responded to the sentiment, saying she was happy to see them “engage” and “get attention.” She added that their nine-month track allows many people, including Musk and Trump, to see what happened to the ISS and take it very seriously.
“[It allows them to] Understand that as a country as a country in space, our participation is indeed important worldwide. It sets an example that shows how we can do the hard things, put people in space, operate in space, work in space, and then bring us back to our capabilities. This is important and I am grateful. ” she added.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts, including Wilmore and Williams, are planning to discuss their expeditions during one period Post-flight press conference Monday, March 31 at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Fox News’s Christine Park contributed to the report.
