[tgsovlerkhgsel]

I'm wondering whether the astronauts in this situation are excited about getting an extended stay in space without the usual competition for launch opportunities, or are unhappy about it (due to the long separation from family, health effects, the lack of comfort that comes with living on the frontier of what humanity can currently reach, etc.).

This quote:

> “They understand the importance now of moving on and... getting the vehicle back safely.”

makes me think they aren't too happy about this outcome.

[KyleBerezin]

I can assure you Butch and Sunny are very happy about getting to spend more time in space. This is also likely their last visit to the ISS. They are both around 60. Older astronauts have gone to the ISS, but if I had to guess they are both probably on their last mission.

[peeters]

If I had to guess, the thing they would dislike the most about the situation is that two previously assigned astronauts scheduled to fly are getting bumped from their mission so that Crew Dragon can fly with two empty seats.

[TMWNN]

The others blithely assuring you that Wilmore and Williams are happy to have more time in space are wrong.

Yes, flying in space is cool. No, most people don't want to do this indefinitely. Astronauts retire all the time even when they are 100% guaranteed more flight time if they didn't retire; a whole bunch did that in the 1960s and 1970s (some, like Frank Borman, 100% guaranteed to walk on the moon), and more during the shuttle era.

It's one thing to have a mission extended by a day, as happened to the shuttle routinely because of bad weather at the landing site. Skylab 4's mission I believe got extended by 28 days, but that was a known possibility before launch. To have an eight-day mission be extended to *eight months* is in no way shape or form OK.

Wilmore is going to miss his 30th wedding anniversary and other family events. <https://www.wvlt.tv/2024/08/09/family-reacts-tennessee-astro...> To those who think otherwise, do you really think he is thrilled by that? Really?

[__m]

They literally risk their life to go to space, I’m sure they‘ll be fine with it.

[rjh29]

Last time I read about this, the astronauts absolutely love being in space and will be happy about it. Heck even I would be happy, this is a one in a million experience!

[ekianjo]

rather one in a billion experience :-) at least for now

[rkagerer]

Their assignment was to complete a test flight. They're probably disappointed they won't get to finish the job.

As astronauts I can't imagine they're too upset over the prospect of more time in space. I'm sure the timing inconveniences medium-term plans they had, and is a pain in the a* from that perspective, but in their line of work you know how to expect the unexpected and roll with new circumstances. I'm sure their loved ones are glad their safety is being considered foremost.

[TMWNN]

> Their assignment was to complete a test flight. They're probably disappointed they won't get to finish the job.

The Starliner crew had to go manual while approaching ISS because the autonomous docking software couldn't handle the five failed thrusters.

Watch the crew entering ISS. Williams is very, very, very happy to have survived the ascent. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsURePrNTx0>

[bravetraveler]

Stuff like this is so politically loaded it's hard to say. Defending from at least 12 different angles!

Were it me, I'd be conflicted for the obvious reasons. Yay, more time in space. Can do the rare part. Oh no, more time in space - danger.

I'm not an astronaut though - they've been selected for certain behavior

[throwup238]

> Oh no, more time in space - danger.

Has anyone ever died in space (as in above the von Karman line)? The danger is on launch and reentry, which is the risk this delay is trying to mitigate.

Even the worst space accident (Apollo 13) ended up returning safely.

[meatmanek]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_11

The mission ended in disaster when the crew capsule depressurised during preparations for re-entry, killing the three-person crew.[9] The three crew members of Soyuz 11 are the only humans to have died in space.[b][10]

[bravetraveler]

Yea, that's a fair point - not many. It's more of a "monkey brain" response than anything. In orbit you're high off the ground but not really falling... at it, you know?

edit: I may trust the vessel but state changes are where the devil works

[pigeons]

There is also the danger of having a shorter lifespan because of the damage and stress on the body that the extended time in space brings.

[verzali]

Well no, but space is dangerous. Reentry and launch may be more dangerous, but we still go to enormous efforts to keep astronauts in space safe.