NASA astronauts Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, stranded on the International Space Station (ISS), joined their colleagues Don Pettit and Nick Haag in sending loving Christmas greetings from space.
In a video message published on the night of December 24, the astronauts wore Christmas accessories: they created a festive atmosphere with Santa Claus hats. Suni Williams in particular attracted attention with her reindeer headband, which floated in her weightless flying curls.
Special coherence
As she playfully flew candy canes through the weightlessness, Williams spoke of the special bond on board: “The seven of us here are like a family. We enjoy the Christmas holidays together, have fun and prepare for the holidays.” The prospect of celebrating together and the small preparations is one of the nicest aspects of Christmas for her.
The astronauts’ festive greetings come at a difficult time: Williams and Wilmore involuntarily spend the holidays in space – six months after their return to Earth, originally scheduled for June.
The two reached the ISS on June 6 in a Starliner space capsule from the American aerospace company Boeing and were actually expected to return home eight days later in the same capsule.
Dock issues
However, when docking with the ISS, problems arose with the capsule’s thrusters, which are necessary for precise maneuvering. Helium leaks were also discovered before takeoff and during the flight. The American space agency then decided to fly the Starliner back to Earth without a crew. Since then, the two have bravely tried to make the best of it – even at Christmas.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
