Yet again with the media, the astronauts aren’t stuck on ISS. It is blatantly false to headline such. Haven’t been since ehhh was it November. They have a perfectly working lifeboat capsule with seats. They could return any moment now should it be deemed necessary.
Their mission profile got changed. They are now part of the next expedition crew and as such their normal schedule return depends on, when replacement expedition arrives to maintain continuity of expeditions. Couple other astronauts expeditions slots got bumped to make this happen.
These are professional astronauts. Being part of expedition crews is pinnacle achievement of one’s career. Not to mention with both of them given their age and time already in space, this is their last space mission. I doubt they much mind their last mission is instead of week long test flight of a new capsule, an 8 month long long stay space station expedition. Ending ones in space career in style with a long stay expedition doing experiments and studies on ISS.
Yet again with the media, the astronauts aren’t stuck on ISS. It is blatantly false to headline such. Haven’t been since ehhh was it November. They have a perfectly working lifeboat capsule with seats. They could return any moment now should it be deemed necessary.
Their mission profile got changed. They are now part of the next expedition crew and as such their normal schedule return depends on, when replacement expedition arrives to maintain continuity of expeditions. Couple other astronauts expeditions slots got bumped to make this happen.
These are professional astronauts. Being part of expedition crews is pinnacle achievement of one’s career. Not to mention with both of them given their age and time already in space, this is their last space mission. I doubt they much mind their last mission is instead of week long test flight of a new capsule, an 8 month long long stay space station expedition. Ending ones in space career in style with a long stay expedition doing experiments and studies on ISS.