New Delhi: NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, originally scheduled for an eight-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has been in space for over 100 days due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Despite the unexpected extension, Williams remains in high spirits, describing the ISS as her happy place and sharing that she loves being there.Mission extended due to Starliner glitchesWilliams and fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore, both retired Navy captains, boarded the Boeing Starliner in June for what was intended to be a brief mission. However, technical glitches with the spacecraft have delayed their return, potentially extending their stay for up to eight months. During a press conference, Williams emphasized her comfort with the situation, stating that the experience hasnt been overly challenging given her previous time spent in space. “This is my happy place. I love being up here in space,” she said.LIVE: From the @Space_Station, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams discuss their ongoing mission and answer questions from the media: https://t.co/ytifGf22Gn— NASA (@NASA) September 13, 2024Looking ahead despite delaysWhile acknowledging that their original plan was to return aboard the Starliner, Williams remains optimistic about the delay. We wanted to take Starliner to completion and land back home, but you know, you have to turn the page and look at the next opportunity, she noted. The astronauts are now expected to return to Earth in late February, courtesy of Elon Musks SpaceX capsule.Family and ground concernsAlthough Williams is enthusiastic about her extended stay, she admitted to feeling some concern about missing out on family plans. “In the back of my mind, there are folks on the ground who have plans, like my family... spending time with my mother. And I think I was fretting more about that,” she confessed. However, Williams praised her familys understanding and support, which helped her to focus on the mission.Voting from SpaceOne exciting aspect of the extended mission is the opportunity for Williams and Wilmore to cast their votes in the 2024 US presidential election from space. Williams emphasized the importance of voting, stating, It is a very important duty. Wilmore added, NASA makes it very easy for us to do that.
