On February 11, 2025, the two astronauts who have been stuck in space, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, were announced to have an earlier arrival home. The astronauts have been on the spacecraft since June, and are now expected to come back in mid-March after what was originally scheduled to be a one-week mission. Wilmore and Williams were put into this position due to technical difficulties with their spacecraft, Boeing’s Starliner.
After Journalist John Dickerson from CBS News asked Suni if she felt that she was indeed “abandoned” as it was portrayed across news channels, to which she replied, “I don’t think I’m abandoned. I don’t think we’re stuck up here. We’ve got food. We’ve got clothes. We have a ride home in case anything really bad does happen to the International Space Station” (qtd. in NBC News). She continued to express her passionate feelings that she is part of a team and something greater than herself, as she is performing world-class science and research, which includes stem cell research, bioprinting, and 3D printing. During her exciting interview, she stated that she feels honored and proud to be a part of this team and mission. In fact, Suni even set a new spacewalk record!
Additionally, her uplifting spirit and optimistic attitude are what keep her going. Williams states, “You have to go with the flow and look at the bright side of it and think of how you’re contributing” (qtd. in NBC News). In times like these, mental toughness is imperative. Ramapo’s Biology teacher and Environmental Club adviser, Ms. Angerson, says, “All their hard work that got them to this point really just prepared them for adversity.”
Ramapo freshman, Mia Narula, was asked what concerns she would have if she were stuck in space. She responded, “I would be most concerned about radiation because too much exposure could impact me when I come back to Earth.”
Overall, Williams and Wilmore’s display of dedication and commitment to science, research, and their team have been nothing short of impressive and admirable. May they achieve great success on their journey back to Earth!
