HOUSTON – NASA Astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita Williams joined fellow astronaut Nick Hague to speak with media on Monday about their nine month flight.
Wilmore and Williams have become a celebrity astronaut duo, after what was supposed to be an 8-day trip turned into more than 280 days in orbit at the International Space Station.
Wilmore was the commander of the flight and stopped short of blaming Boeing or NASA for the outcome of the mission.
“I will start and point the finger and I will blame me,” said Wilmore. “I could’ve asked some questions and the answers to those questions could have turned the tide.”
The astronauts stopped short of saying they were ‘stuck’ in space and said they were trained to pivot.
"We knew it was a little bit unique, obviously, first time flying on a new spacecraft," said Williams. “But life goes on up there.”
The astronauts said they were surprised by the amount of attention their mission has gotten.
They returned home earlier this month when the SpaceX Crew Dragon ferry ship splashed off the Florida Gulf Coast earlier this month.
“It’s pretty much a miracle to see how your human body can adapt,” said Williams. “The first day we got back, when all of us came down the ladder and greeted everybody, we were all a little wobbly at that time. It’s amazing within 24 hours how the nervous system kicks in, your brain understands what’s going on."
The astronauts said if given another opportunity, they would go on a Starliner flight again.
On Wednesday, the astronauts said they are meeting with Boeing leaders about how to fix the problems they experienced.
“We’re gonna fix it. We’re going to make it work,” said Wilmore. “Boeing is completely committed. NASA is completely committed. With that, I’d get on in a heartbeat.”
Williams added by calling the spacecraft ‘capable’ with capabilities other spacecrafts don’t have.
Keeping the Faith in Space
Although Wilmore was in space unexpectedly for nine months, he was still able to fulfill his church duties.
That’s according to Pastor Tommy Dohn at Providence Baptist Church, where Wilmore has been attending for 17 years with his family.
"He is one of the nine elders at the church here, involved in whatever needs to be done and leading and teaching," said Dohn.
The Sunday following the arrival of SpaceX Crew-9, Dohn said Wilmore came back to church in person.
“There was a bit of excitement after he came, but he doesn’t want to be the focus,” said Dohn. “Although we are all kind of starstruck.”
Wilmore attributes his faith for getting him through uncertainty.
“It was part of what I need as a believer in Jesus Christ to continue that focus. It assisted me day in and day out because I need that fellowship, even though it’s fellowship from afar,” said Wilmore.
