NASA's 2 stuck astronauts face more time in space with return delayed until at least late March
NASA's two stuck astronauts just got their space mission extended again. That means they won't be back until spring, 10 months after rocketing into orbit on Boeing's Starliner capsule.
THEY’RE STILL UP THERE?!
Holy shit, so much has happened in this country and the world at large, I completely forgot this entire story was happening jesus christ almighty
To be fair, they know the state of the world; I'd probably choose to stay in space.
I thought they had already come down...
The glory of privatization on full display.
You have not paid your respirator subscription fee. Your oxygen will be discontinued in 5 minutes.
Some reporters began calling the astronauts "stranded" or "stuck" on the ISS. NASA and Boeing stress, however, that this couldn't be further from the truth.
https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-nasa-astronauts-not-stranded-space
Its all about phrasing. They are just having an extended layover because their flight is delayed. Boeing also provides courtesy, in-flight door removal.
They're pining for the fjords.
60 years of spaceflight and we can still barely get to orbit.
God we're shit at this, aren't we?
To be fair, it's incredibly hard to get into orbit, and it's relatively easy to get anywhere from there. The fact we can get into orbit pretty safely, reliably, and consistently while struggling to do stuff that's so much easier well is impressive.
I mean, Boeing barely does, we have also shot countless things everywhere in the solar system... Heck, even Starship reached a stable orbit in like the 3rd test flight or so (practically, and throttled shortly before, so the thing returns). It's hard, but far from impossible with a competent team and strict management
Okay but tbf starship didnt have a payload, unless you count the banana.
I'm sure they're just thrilled. We're probably going to learn all kinds of things about what happens to a human during an extended spaceflight from their ruined bodies.
The radiation exposure in space is insane. Their health did certainly going to be noticeable.
I mean the article says that they will have only been up there for 10 months, and most space station missions last 6 months up to a year, so we have plenty of other examples of people who have been up there as long or longer.
Christ. You think president Musk will send a SpaceX solution up there or count his billions?
Probably both.
He'll just funnel $$ to his private company using cuts to social services for poor people
a three hour tour. a three hour tour.
I hope they're calling each other Gilligan and Skipper.
Can they sue Boeing? I’d sue the fuck out of Boeing.
So, real nuts and bolts question here. How does this affect their pay? Are they being paid extra to be up there so long? I would want overtime.
I don't think they do.
Astronauts do not get overtime or holiday/weekend pay. They get paid for a 40-hour work week, i.e. their regular salaries. - NASA spokesperson
Seems like that could breed resentment in the minds of astronauts who get stuck, like Butch and Suni. As cool as working in space would be, it's still work. Combined with the toll that microgravity takes on the body, and missing my loved ones, I'd be wanting some "extra" compensation for my time and health.
No TDY? No “space time” pay?
Huh. Kinda surprising.
Fun fact, they don't get paid during a government shutdown.
Well, bill collectors might have a hard time knocking on their door
I have to think that if there are bonuses (probably not in a government org), they'd take that into account. Otherwise, probably not.
Their DNA? To shreds, you say.
So, is this how my Kerbals feels when I forget them in orbit ?
I think NASA should award them the "Jebediah Kerman" distinction.
My brain refuses to accept that this image is not upside down, even if I flip it, it's upside down.
"I know what it feels like to be upside down from here." -Atom and His Package
Everything is always upside-down and always right side up in space. Simultaneously!
The enemy's gate is down.
What is it’s a prank and all they have to do is get caught screwing to be allowed to come home?
How do they get haircuts up there?
...but wait, there's more!
Used one of those for a long time, when the blades start to dull, it becomes the most painful haircut you can imagine
They are still waiting on their delivery of lemon-soaked paper napkins. Any day now.
Sometimes I look up at the sky at night, think of these two, and laugh.