The astronauts of NASA Salvati give the first interview from the return to Earth in Fox News Exclusive
After spending nine months on board the International Space Station (ISS), the Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams veterans finally returned to Earth – and they opened on their mission For the first time in an exclusive Fox News interview broadcast on Monday.
Sitting with the co-anchor of “America’s Newsroom” Bill Hemer at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, the duo reflected on their time in orbit, their reactions to learning that would remain longer than expected, the future of exploiting space and what it means to serve their country in space.
“My first thought was that we just had to turn,” said Williams, remembering the moment when the duo learned that their return would be delayed.
“If our space vehicle would have returned home based on the decisions taken here, and we would have been up there until February, I was like,” we do the best. “
A little “enthusiastic” of the perspective of passing months in orbit, Williams got excited about his love for life in space – witnessing “scientific experiments” that take place around them and seeing the changes made to the international space station from his last visit.
“I’m honored to make a small part of it,” he added.
For Wilmore, his reaction focused on remembering himself that the mission did not concern him or his feelings.
Fox News to Air First Interview with astronauts blocked by their return to Earth
Fox News Channel Bill Hemmer presented the first interview with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from their return to earth in “America’s Newsroom”, Monday 31 March. (Fox News/Getty Images)
“It concerns what this human spatial flight program speaks of. They are our national objectives”, He told Hemer.
“And I have to wrap … my mind around, what does our nation need me right now? Is returning to when we are in the fleet, and we are operating from the pointed end of the spear … we are a tool of our nation, of our national objectives. I thought I was not there for the high school of my daughter? Of course. But we trained them to be resilient, my daughters and my family.”
Wilmore continued, sharing that his family is forced to develop a little resilience, the understanding that there is no “given” when it comes to “trial flights”.
“We don’t know what will happen,” he continued. “We may not be back in eight days or whatever the plan was. Focus on this, concentrate on the mission. Of course (we) we face the personal side, but I cannot let this interfere with what I am called to do at the moment.”
Wilmore and Williams spent over 280 days in space after their eight -day mission, which began last June, was derailly when theirs Boeing Starliner Spacecraft technical problems encountered.
The blocked astronauts are prepared for the long -awaited return to Earth
The astronauts of NASA Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were the flight crew on the Boeing Starliner capsule and were stuck in space for 286 days. (NASA)
NASA decided that she was not sure she postponed her astronauts to the space vehicle and returned to Earth without pilot in September.
The duo told Hemer not to have blamed Boeing for the Hiccup, with Wilmore calling Spaceflight “Hard”.
“This is a new technology with which we are dealing with, so when you put everything together, it’s difficult,” he said.
Williams, in the same way, said he would not characterize the problems of the space vehicle as a Boeing “failing”.
Wilmore contested the narrative that he and Williams were “blocked” and “blocked”, saying to Hemer that everyone, including himself, was guilty to a certain extent.
“‘They failed. Who? Who is’ them’?” he asked. “There are many questions that, as the Commander of CFT, I Didn’T Ask, I know I’m culpable … I’m That to the Nation. There’s Things That I Did Not ask that I Should Have Asked. I Didn’t Know At The Time Than I Needed To Ask Them, But in Hindsight … Some … of the Signals Were There.
Wilmore added that he does not “want to point his fingers” and instead he wants to “look forward” and learn from past errors.
A rescue mission, conducted by NASA and Spacex at the beginning of this month, contributed to bringing astronauts on March 18th.
The mission pushed Spacex – and the CEO Elon Musk – even more in the spotlight. Hemmer asked Wilmore and Williams what Musk and President would like to tell Donald TrumpWhich often called the Biden administration for alleged not to act urgently to take them home before.
“I respect you, I trust you. You have not given me reason not to trust you, not even one of them …” Wilmore replied.
“I am grateful that our national leaders are actually entering and take part in our human space flight program, which we see is an enormously important global meaning, and take on an active role. On the basis of the past and what we see now, with them they do it … it is not only refreshing, it is a process.
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Williams echoed to that feeling, saying he is happy to see them “involved” and “he notices”. He added that their nine -month orbit allowed many people, including Musk and Trump, to see what is going on to the ISS and “take it very seriously”.
“(It allows them) to understand that our involvement as a country, as a spatial nation, is really important all over the world. It gives an example and shows our ability to be able to do difficult things, put people in space, operate in space, work in space and then bring us back. It is important and I appreciate it,” he added.
NASA Astronauts Spacex Crew-9, including Wilmore and Williams, are expected to discuss their expedition during a Postflight press conference At 2:30 pm EDT on Monday 31 March, from the Johnson Space Center of NASA to Houston.
Fox News Kristine parks contributed to this relationship.
