Do the Astronauts Stuck in Space Have Enough Food and Water for Their Mission? NASA Astronaut Explains
“They try to think of everything… they do have extras up there,” former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino said
MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore (right) and Suni Williams" fifu-data-src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dqGslgIfh20fqPvUgTXsww--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/7b72011bf98840e09b45abb9b688e8c6">
MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore (right) and Suni Williams
The astronauts aboard the Boeing Starliner could remain in space for several months – but many wonder if they have enough food and water to survive that long.
During a recent interview with the Today show, former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino explained how the astronauts, who may not return until February 2025, are feeling and what they are experiencing while on their extended space trip.
“Looking at another six months, that’s going to take a shift in mindset not only for the crew but also for their families,” Massimino said.
When asked if the astronauts have enough food and supplies for an additional six months, Massimino responded, “Yes, they do.”
“They try to think of everything,” he said in reference to NASA. “They do have extras up there, but they also have supply ships that go up there. And those supply ships can get packed pretty close to the launch time, so they do have deliveries coming there pretty often.”
MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty
Butch Wilmore (left) and Suni Williams
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams may be stranded in space aboard the Boeing Starliner until 2025 due to ongoing delays, officials have announced.
On Wednesday, Aug. 7, the agency held a news conference giving an update on the two astronauts who have been in outer space for 63 days — approximately seven weeks longer than expected — following their June 5 launch.
The initial trip from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Florida’s Space Coast was supposed to last no more than eight days, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.
NASA and Boeing are currently discussing whether the spacecraft is safe enough to return to Earth, or if they will need to seek assistance from rival Elon Musk by using SpaceX to retrieve and bring Wilmore and Williams home, the Wall Street Journal and CNN reported.
Related: Astronauts Will Be Will Be Stuck in Space for at Least a Week Longer amid Boeing’s Starliner Issues
The final decision is expected to be made by “mid August,” per the WSJ.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
#Astronauts #Stuck #Space #Food #Water #Mission #NASA #Astronaut #Explains