Photo credit: arstechnica.com
NASA Astronauts Discuss Extended Mission and Political Landscape
Recent analysis by Ars suggests that the decision to extend the missions of astronauts Wilmore and Williams on the International Space Station (ISS) this spring was primarily influenced by technical needs and operational requirements rather than political considerations.
Q. How does it feel to wake up amid a significant political controversy?
Wilmore: From the very beginning, we have immense respect for Mr. Musk, as well as for our President, Donald Trump. We appreciate the support they provide for human space exploration and our nation as a whole. Politics, as we all know, is simply part of life. We recognize the purpose of a political system, and we stand fully behind it. Living and working in space involves unique experiences and insights that might not be visible to those outside our current reality. Likewise, I’m confident that they have their own challenges and information that we may not have access to. So in response to your question, we understand that politics is part of our environment, and we are navigating that landscape as it comes.
Q. Was the decision for your extended stay influenced by politics?
Wilmore: From my perspective, I don’t see politics playing any role in this. My colleagues and I came to the ISS ready for an extended mission even though our initial plans were for a shorter duration. In human spaceflight, preparing for unexpected events is standard practice. That’s the essence of our national human spaceflight program: anticipating and managing unforeseeable circumstances. Our seamless transition into Crew 9 and Expedition 72 was a result of this careful planning and preparedness.
Source
arstechnica.com