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Astronauts stuck in space, terrifying!

163 replies

Allnewtometoo · 08/08/2024 12:42

I realise this happened a couple of months ago but I've only come across it today, and they're still there.

They went for 8 days, and likely to be there for 8 months.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4yqepr469o

Two smiling astronauts in blue space suits

They went to space for eight days - and could be stuck until 2025

Two American astronauts face the sudden prospect of spending Christmas and New Year in space.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4yqepr469o

OP posts:
DanceSingandhavefun · 08/08/2024 13:52

I honestly cannot understand why anybody would want to go into space. The thought of it terrifies me.

TheGreenKnight · 08/08/2024 13:52

coxesorangepippin · 08/08/2024 12:46

How awful

They don't mention food in the link? Do astronauts not need food?!

There are also scheduled visits from resupply space craft.

MeAgainAndAgain · 08/08/2024 13:54

JackJarvisEsq · 08/08/2024 13:17

Having to unexpectedly stay a night in a Preston Preimer Inn after a delayed flight from Manchester I fully understand what they’re going through

How awful. I hope you had the support of a BBC article, a slot on the midday news and a Mumsnet thread too? 🤣

MeAgainAndAgain · 08/08/2024 13:57

Iasonnas · 08/08/2024 13:00

Yes, there was a period during covid where all humans were on earth for the first time in X number of years, 30? 50?

I can't remember but it wasn't something I'd really considered before

What? That’s amazing! So there has been someone up in space for a number of years apart from a period during COVID? Mind blown at that thought.

Like someone else said, I love the questions and thoughts that hadn’t ever occurred to me.

GelatoPistacchio · 08/08/2024 14:02

I remember at the time thinking I wouldn't want to go up there in a Boeing spacecraft and I was right. I don't fancy my chances in their planes atm. I'm thankful that we tend to purchase Airbus planes in Europe!

Waterway · 08/08/2024 14:05

They have both been up before; they are both former military in the USA, and they will have experience with deployments from both NASA and the military not going to plan, considering the mission of this one they will have known about the possibility, but also when you are an astronaut/cosmonaut things like this come with the territory of the job and something they are prepared for.

They will have plenty to do up there, they are both capable scientists, have experience living up there, and the ISS has all sorts of food, the Russians send up a lot of tinned stuff and the Americans send up dehydrated food and MRE style food, fun fact, the salt and pepper they have is liquid form, so they squirt it onto their food rather than shake.
They will still be in contact with their friends and family, they all have laptops in their bunk space, they can email, message etc, they can ring their families and videos calls are often set up. If they get bored of that and their crew mates, the ISS has ham radio, they often communicate with random people with ham radios on the ground.

LaeralSilverhand · 08/08/2024 14:05

MeAgainAndAgain · 08/08/2024 13:57

What? That’s amazing! So there has been someone up in space for a number of years apart from a period during COVID? Mind blown at that thought.

Like someone else said, I love the questions and thoughts that hadn’t ever occurred to me.

The ISS has been constantly crewed since 1999, except for a brief period during COVID, yes. The longest individual stay was 371 days. Most crew stay for around 6 months, so 8 months is hardly extraordinary (although these two specific astronauts were only supposed to be there for a few days as their primary mission was testing the new Starliner vehicle).

RareFawn · 08/08/2024 14:06

The article i read suggests that they could hitch a ride home with the next bunch that comes out. The 'problem' seems to be that it would mean two of the next crew being unable to go into space at that time. It'll be easily sorted at some inconvenience and extra cost.

Mostlycarbon · 08/08/2024 14:07

The thought of being trapped anywhere for eight months when you planned to be away for eight days is horrifying from a life admin/parenting point of view. But I would never want to go to space in the first place!

Notjustabrunette · 08/08/2024 14:07

NotA6FigureSalary · 08/08/2024 13:16

It's like another Titan Sub situation

I would disagree with this. The people on the titan were tourists, who didn’t have a clue what they were getting themselves into as they were not well informed. The astronauts have trained for years to do this, including having to pass psychological testing. Many come from an aeronautical background and were test pilots for fighter jets, which comes with a particular attitude to risk. I have been lucky enough to meet 2 astronauts, they had very different backgrounds. One was a chemist and one was a pilot, they were fascinating to talk to. 2 things they both said has really stuck with me. One was looking back at earth and the perspective that gave them. The other was that they accepted that there was an element of risk that they might not come back.

Drogdab · 08/08/2024 14:08

Also space food is pretty shit

cannellonivesuvio · 08/08/2024 14:12

NotA6FigureSalary · 08/08/2024 13:16

It's like another Titan Sub situation

What? It’s as far away from it as it can be.

LaeralSilverhand · 08/08/2024 14:13

Mostlycarbon · 08/08/2024 14:07

The thought of being trapped anywhere for eight months when you planned to be away for eight days is horrifying from a life admin/parenting point of view. But I would never want to go to space in the first place!

They're highly experienced professional astronauts. They were testing an experimental craft on its inaugural flight. I'm sure they will have planned for all contingencies, including the very real possibility of dying.

They're really not going to be worrying about who's taking the kids to school and whether they remembered to cancel the milk.

kittensinthekitchen · 08/08/2024 14:13

Imagine getting there and finding out you'd forgotten to pack your phone charger Wink

HaveABlastOfThisMatrix · 08/08/2024 14:15

AlwaysFreezing · 08/08/2024 13:03

I read that their parking spaces are full. So I don't get how they're ever going to get home. I mean, I'm sure they will, but are the Americans going to have to ask the Russians if they can park in one of their spots (interestingly, they have 3 to americas 2).

Oh wow - it's like the ultimate Mumsnet parking thread. We need a diagram! Grin

JudgeBurrito · 08/08/2024 14:16

LaeralSilverhand · 08/08/2024 14:13

They're highly experienced professional astronauts. They were testing an experimental craft on its inaugural flight. I'm sure they will have planned for all contingencies, including the very real possibility of dying.

They're really not going to be worrying about who's taking the kids to school and whether they remembered to cancel the milk.

100%! The lack of imagination from some people is incredible. Just because some decided to get married, buy a house with a white picket fence, and spend their life shopping in Waitrose and dropping kids off at clubs doesn't mean everyone is living the same suburban lifestyle..!

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 08/08/2024 14:19

I would love to go into space, but would prefer a Star Trek Next Generation experience over floating around in a very small metal barrel. I'm sure they will be fine, if quite inconvenienced. I haven't read anything about the plan for getting them home, but there are options. I don't know if they are even going to attempt to fix the Boeing or if they will just detach it and crash it into the Pacific. I'm sure that I read somewhere that they don't have the ability to land it without crew, so I don't know if they even have enough control from a distance to aim it into the Pacific.

I hope they don't have any non-refundable exotic holidays booked for the near future.

LaeralSilverhand · 08/08/2024 14:22

For those curious as to what living on the ISS is like, Sunita Williams did a tour on one of her previous trips:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXv9AZl3fw4

SerenityNowInsanityLater · 08/08/2024 14:23

But 8 months in the ISS would be a lot better than 8 months in prison. They will be fine.

Was prison the other option when they were told to choose their own uncharted adventure? Like, "We want the option where you can't drop the soap. We'll take The 8 Months Stuck In Space challenge."

LaeralSilverhand · 08/08/2024 14:25

SerenityNowInsanityLater · 08/08/2024 14:23

But 8 months in the ISS would be a lot better than 8 months in prison. They will be fine.

Was prison the other option when they were told to choose their own uncharted adventure? Like, "We want the option where you can't drop the soap. We'll take The 8 Months Stuck In Space challenge."

The options were:

  • successful test mission
  • partially successful test mission (which is what they got)
  • terrifying fiery death
Ilovelifeverymuch · 08/08/2024 14:27

coxesorangepippin · 08/08/2024 12:46

How awful

They don't mention food in the link? Do astronauts not need food?!

They have a process for sending supplies to the ISS where they are so they will be fine and there are other astronauts stationed there for longer periods.

Hopefully they get back safely.

SerenityNowInsanityLater · 08/08/2024 14:30

LaeralSilverhand · 08/08/2024 14:25

The options were:

  • successful test mission
  • partially successful test mission (which is what they got)
  • terrifying fiery death

I see you've taken my post very seriously.
You've used bullet points.

CombatLingerie · 08/08/2024 14:33

OMG it was bad enough being stuck in Tenerife for an extra week when that bloody volcano exploded.

PeachSnake · 08/08/2024 14:33

No riots there.

rainbowunicorn · 08/08/2024 14:33

JudgeBurrito · 08/08/2024 14:16

100%! The lack of imagination from some people is incredible. Just because some decided to get married, buy a house with a white picket fence, and spend their life shopping in Waitrose and dropping kids off at clubs doesn't mean everyone is living the same suburban lifestyle..!

This. I find it incredible that people have literally no clue about things like ISS..I mean it's on the news regularly
It's talked about on social media. I can't help but think some people never actually think outside their own small world.

Added to that the number of people including the OP that seem incapable of reading what they have linked to. I saw this story early this morning and nothing has changed all the relevant info including how they plan to get home,
the food situation etc is right there in the article. I think people literally read the first few lines of a story and then just make the rest up.