But spacecraft difficulties mean that the pair will now be stranded in space until 2025 - however, a return date is yet to be announced.
The astronauts have faced technical problems with the Boeing Starliner capture, which has noted issues with its thrusters as well as helium leaking.
This means it could be too unsafe for the two to make a return trip until next year.
They’ve answered a lot of questions regarding how 'concerned' they feel and what they've been doing to occupy themselves, however, they've recently opened up about 'some changes that need to be made'.
The pair are stuck in space until next year. (NASA)
Wilmore, 61, explained that although there are issues, he feels ‘very fortunate’ to be on the ISS right now before being able to make the safe journey home when the SpaceX Crew Dragon arrives in February.As per The Independent, he said: “Obviously, when you have issues like we’ve had, there’s some changes that need to be made. Boeing’s on board with that. We’re all on board with that.
"Starliner’s crewed test flight was meant to push the edge of the envelope. …"And when you do things with spacecraft that have never been done before, just like Starliner, you’re going to find some things.
“In this case, we found some things that we just could not get comfortable with putting us back in the Starliner.”
NASA astronauts drop tool kit
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He added: "“There’s many cases in the past where there have not been other options.
“We were very fortunate that we have the Space Station and that we had the option to stay and we had the option to come back a different way.”
Wilmore believes that if the NASA crew had more time to figure things out, then they would have been able to return home using the Boeing Capsule, adding: “I think the data could have gotten there.
"We could have gotten to the point, I believe, where we could have returned on Starliner. But we just simply ran out of time.”
Despite fears over the safety of the pair, the Starliner managed to return to Earth on 6 September without a hitch.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)According to reports, while the two were in the Capsule, there were issues with propulsion and orientation, however, these issues didn’t affect the craft when it touched down in New Mexico.
They even reported hearing a strange noise, which NASA have since confirmed the source of the noise to be speaker.
Now, the two astronauts will have to wait nearly eight months before they can return home, which means they’ll also miss Christmas with their families this year due to the issues faced up in space.
But Wilmore isn’t too phased and explained that it didn’t take him too long to adjust to the change of plans.
He said: “I’m not gonna fret over it. I mean, there’s no benefit to it at all. So my transition was — maybe it wasn’t instantaneous — but it was pretty close.”
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His crewmate, Williams also told CNN that space is her ‘happy place.’Featured Image Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images/NASA
Topics: NASA, SpaceX, Space, Science
Britt Jones
Updated 12:04 2 Sep 2024 GMT+1Published 12:01 2 Sep 2024 GMT+1
Astronauts stranded in space until 2025 report 'strange' noise on board International Space Station
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' eight-day mission to space went wrong after their spacecraft suffered technical issues
Bec Oakes
Two astronauts who are stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) until next year have reported hearing 'strange' noises during their time on board.OOn 5 June, NASA test-pilots Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita Williams embarked on a short trip to the ISS. They were due to return to Earth later the same month.
NASA astronauts drop tool kit
Credit: NASA
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However, they ran into trouble when the new Boeing Starliner capsule that was supposed to bring them home experienced a number of technical issues.
As a result, Wilmore and Williams have been stranded on the ISS for almost three months.
And it doesn't look like they'll be heading home anytime soon, with NASA confirming in a press conference last month (24 August) that the astronauts will be picked up by the crew of SpaceX's Crew-9 mission, with an expected return date of February 2025.
Meanwhile, the Starliner is set undock from the ISS and return to Earth without anyone on board in just a few days on 6 September.
NASA astronauts Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita Williams have been stranded in space since June following technical issues with their spacecraft (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images)While the pair remain 'confident' that NASA will get them home safely, they've reported hearing 'strange' noises while up in space.
On Saturday (31 August), Butch Wilmore reportedly contacted Houston's Johnson Space Center to share his concerns.
"I've got a question about Starliner. There's a strange noise coming through the speaker and I didn't know if you can connect into the Starliner... I don't know what's making it," he said.
Mission control confirmed that they could configure a way for the sound to be played, after which Wilmore held a phone up to the Starliner's speakers.
They responded: "Butch, that one came through. It was kind of like a pulsating noise, almost like a sonar ping.
"Good recording, thanks Butch. We will pass it onto the team and let you know what we find."
In a recent call with mission control, they reported hearing 'strange' noises coming from the Starliner (NASA/Getty Images)They asked one more time if there was any other noise and confirmed that it was coming from the Starliner.
Wilmore could then be heard telling mission control that he hopes they will 'scratch [their] heads and see if you can figure out what's going on.'
The cause of the noise is yet to be determined.
While the stranded astronauts have sufficient supplies and resources to last until they're finally rescued, experts have warned of the 'life-altering' effects they will face after being in space for so long.
This includes loss of bone density and muscle atrophy, changes to their heart function, vision problems and intense radiation exposure.
And the longer they're stuck up there, the more severe the effects are likely to be.
Rachael Seidler, a professor of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida, told DailyMail.com: "Generally, almost all of the changes that we see with human spaceflight in terms of physiology seem to be dose dependent.
"The longer you're there, the bigger the change."Featured Image Credit: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images/NASA/Getty Images
Topics: US News, Space, NASA, Science
Published 17:27 2 Sep 2024 GMT+1
NASA confirms what 'strange' noise stranded astronauts heard on board International Space Station was
The US space agency have confirmed they have found the source of the strange sound which startled the stranded astronauts
Olivia Burke
The 'stranded in space' saga is still in full swing for NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams - with it being set to continue until 2025 - but things got a bit precarious over the last weekend.
Although the pair remain 'confident' that they will eventually make a safe return to Earth, they were probably a bit panicked when they suddenly started hearing 'strange' noises on Saturday (31 August).
Despite initially being stumped by the cause of the mysterious sounds, NASA have now confirmed exactly what they were. And although a ton of social media users had 'space ghosts' down as the prime suspects, they were sadly mistaken.
NASA astronauts drop tool kit
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For those who don't know, American test-pilots Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, set off for what was supposed to be a short trip up to the International Space Station (ISS) back on 5 June, and were set to return later the same month.
But technical issues have plagued the new Boeing Starliner capsule they were sent up into space on, with thruster failures and helium leaks forcing their return to Earth to be drastically delayed.
The duo need an alternative mode of transport to get them home, and it seems that cadging a lift on SpaceX Crew-9’s return flight in February 2025 is looking like the best bet.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, said of the situation: "We have been working with SpaceX to ensure they are ready to respond with Crew-9 as a contingency.
“We have not formally committed to this path, but we wanted to ensure we had all that flexibility in place."
The astronauts were left alarmed after hearing a strange sound over the weekend (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP)On Friday (6 September), the Starliner is set to undock from the ISS and make a solo journey back to Earth without anyone on board, while Wilmore and Williams will have to stay up there for at least another six months.
Talk about copping the sh*tty end of the stick, eh?
Well, things got even more worrying for the NASA astronauts on Saturday when Wilmore contacted Houston's Johnson Space Center to share his concerns after hearing a 'strange noise coming through the speaker'.
Mission control confirmed that they could also hear a sound which was 'kind of like a pulsating noise, almost like a sonar ping' and that they would get back to the astronauts after investigating further.
Although Wilmore and Williams kept their cool, the rest of the world was sent into a frenzy of concern about the stranded pair - and even former astronauts, such as former Canadian spaceman Chris Hadfield, weren't immune to it.
The former ISS commander wrote in a post on X: "There are several noises I'd prefer not to hear inside my spaceship, including this one that Starliner is now making."
The Starliner is set to return to Earth solo this week (Paul Hennessy/Anadolu via Getty Images)But thankfully, we can all now cool our jets as NASA revealed that the source of the bizarre sound has been identified.
In a statement, a NASA spokesperson explained: "A pulsing sound from a speaker in Boeing's Starliner spacecraft heard by NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore aboard the International Space Station has stopped.
"The feedback from the speaker was the result of an audio configuration between the space station and Starliner.
"The space station audio system is complex, allowing multiple spacecraft and modules to be interconnected, and it is common to experience noise and feedback.
"The crew is asked to contact mission control when they hear sounds originating in the comm system. The speaker feedback Wilmore reported has no technical impact to the crew, Starliner, or station operations, including Starliner's uncrewed undocking from the station no earlier than Friday, Sept. 6."
Hang on - what's that strange sound I hear now?
Ah, it must be the whole world breathing a huge sigh of relief that Wilmore and Williams live to fight another day.Featured Image Credit: NASA via Getty Images
Topics: NASA, Science, Space, US News, Weird, Viral
Olivia Burke
Updated 15:00 10 Aug 2024 GMT+1Published 14:59 10 Aug 2024 GMT+1
Experts warn of ‘life-altering’ risks astronauts stuck in space until 2025 face if stranded until then
NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams stranded on the ISS after their spacecraft faced technical issues
Bec Oakes
Two astronauts currently stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) risk 'life-altering' side effects if they stay in space until 2025, experts warn.
On 5 June, NASA test-pilots Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita Williams set out on an eight-day trip to the ISS.
However, the new Boeing Starliner capsule that was supposed to bring them home experienced a number of technical issues, leaving the pair stranded until NASA is able to come up with a solution.
NASA astronauts drop tool kit
Credit: NASA
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The space agency has been working tirelessly to find a way to bring Wilmore and Williams home, but revealed in a statement earlier this week that this could be as late as next year.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich explained on Wednesday (7 August) that the duo's only choice could be to hop on the return flight of another mission in February 2025.
"We have been working with SpaceX to ensure they are ready to respond with Crew-9 as a contingency," Stich said.
"We have not formally committed to this path, but we wanted to ensure we had all that flexibility in place.
"Our prime option is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner. However, we have done the requisite planning to make sure we have other options open.
"I think Butch and Suni are ready to do whatever we need them to do."
Astronauts Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita Williams could be stuck in space until next year after technical issues with their spacecraft. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)If it were to come down to this option, the astronauts will have been on the ISS for eight months by the time they return to Earth.
But this could pose a major risk to their health as their bodies could start deteriorating the longer they are in space.
Rachael Seidler, a professor of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida, told DailyMail.com: "Generally, almost all of the changes that we see with human spaceflight in terms of physiology seem to be dose dependent.
"The longer you're there, the bigger the change - at least up to a point."
Living in reduced gravity means the body's bones and muscles aren't working as hard as they should be. This can lead to a loss in bone density and muscle atrophy.
Wilmore and Williams have adapted to living on the ISS but the longer they're in space, the more damage it'll do to their bodies. (Instagram/@ISS)"Astronauts experience accelerated bone loss at an alarming rate - about 12 times faster than severe osteoporosis on Earth," Kyle Zagrodzky, founder and CEO of bone health clinic Osteostrong, told Newsweek.
"Osteoporosis increases fracture risk, often leading to life-altering injuries."
Additionally, astronauts on long duration space missions can lose up to 50 percent of their muscle mass, according to the European Space Agency, affecting their ability to do physically demanding activities and causing great pain.
Other concerning health risks Wilmore and Williams could face include changes to the shape and function of their hearts, vision problems and intense radiation exposure.
Each day they spend on the ISS will do more damage to their bodies, so the sooner NASA can get them home, the better.Featured Image Credit: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images/NASA
Topics: Space, NASA, Science, Health
Updated 11:37 1 Sep 2024 GMT+1Published 15:40 31 Aug 2024 GMT+1
Man who spent 340 days in space explains how astronauts 'stranded in space' until 2025 are feeling
Ex-NASA astronaut Scott Kelly has his say on the astronauts who have stuck in space since 5 June
Anish Vij
The only person who might know how two stranded astronauts are feeling has provided some insight into the situation.
Starliner's test pilots Barry 'Butch' Wilmore, 61, and Sunita 'Suni' Williams, 58, embarked on what was supposed to be an eight-day trip to the International Space Station (ISS) on 5 June.
But when thruster and leak problems hit Boeing’s Starliner capsule after lift-off, it meant that they wouldn't return as scheduled.
NASA's New Moon Rover
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On 8 August, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, said that the pair's most likely choice could be to hop on Space X Crew-9’s return flight in February 2025, while the Starliner will be undocked and returned back to Earth by itself.
“We have been working with SpaceX to ensure they are ready to respond with Crew-9 as a contingency,” Stich said.
“We have not formally committed to this path, but we wanted to ensure we had all that flexibility in place.
"Our prime option is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner. However, we have done the requisite planning to make sure we have other options open.
"I think Butch and Suni are ready to do whatever we need them to do."
Meanwhile, ex-NASA astronaut Scott Kelly - who'd spent almost a year on the ISS from 2015 to 2016 - reckons that the pair are doing just fine up there.
Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita Williams are currently stuck up in space (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)“I knew them before they were astronauts and we were all test pilots in the Navy," he told PEOPLE. "They'll be able to handle it."
Speaking about Williams, he added: “She is a great spirit of a person and I’m sure she’s not minding being up there for more time.
“She’s very enthusiastic about most things.”
Kelly's career in space spanned from 1996 to 2016 when he retired - he knows exactly what it's like to spend so long in space.
“I describe it like a large four-bedroom house but filled with a lot of stuff,” Kelly said.
“I always felt like I needed more space, not for me but an extra room for the storage situation.”
Ex-NASA astronaut Scott Kelly knows better than most how they're probably feeling (Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)On how to keep buys, he explained: “You have some personal stuff, you sleep there, you have some computers and things.”
However, he says the hardest thing about being up there is not to get the 'breeze on your face' from the natural outdoors.
"The air is kind of stale inside and it can have a bit of odor depending on where you’re at," Kelly added.
Thankfully, the two-person crew will have plenty of food supplies if they were to stay up in space for that long.
NASA said their plan was for the two to return on a SpaceX car,
However, there could be another issue potentially facing Williams and Wilmore as NASA also revealed that the spacesuits they'd be wearing for their journey were incompatible with the other aircraft.Featured Image Credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images/MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via G
