Richard Hamilton

You've got Butch Wilmore and Sonny Williams, the first astronauts to fly in the Starliner spacecraft on an eight-day mission. NASA probably made a mistake in trailing this as an eight-day mission because they would have been there for at least eight months by the time they come back to Earth.

You've got Butch Wilmore and Sonny Williams, the first astronauts to fly in the Starliner spacecraft on an eight-day mission. NASA probably made a mistake in trailing this as an eight-day mission because they would have been there for at least eight months by the time they come back to Earth.

What happened with Starliner, it launched fine, but as they were approaching the space station, there were all sorts of problems with the thrusters. And they were able to dock successfully. What NASA feared was that the thruster problem would endanger their lives, essentially. So these are little rockets on the spacecraft that help it position. Look at the International Space Station.

What happened with Starliner, it launched fine, but as they were approaching the space station, there were all sorts of problems with the thrusters. And they were able to dock successfully. What NASA feared was that the thruster problem would endanger their lives, essentially. So these are little rockets on the spacecraft that help it position. Look at the International Space Station.

It's the size of a football stadium with lots of bits jutting out, lots of, you know. Other spacecraft docked to it, these enormous solar arrays. Coming in close, you've got to manoeuvre really carefully. You know, it's like parking a car, but in three dimensions with no gravity.

It's the size of a football stadium with lots of bits jutting out, lots of, you know. Other spacecraft docked to it, these enormous solar arrays. Coming in close, you've got to manoeuvre really carefully. You know, it's like parking a car, but in three dimensions with no gravity.

And if your thrusters are failing, there's a real danger that you could slam into the space station and, you know, potentially put everyone's life at risk. risk there. So the problems with the thrusters, they couldn't figure out, and this is exactly what NASA said, they didn't understand the physics of what was going on with the thrusters.

And if your thrusters are failing, there's a real danger that you could slam into the space station and, you know, potentially put everyone's life at risk. risk there. So the problems with the thrusters, they couldn't figure out, and this is exactly what NASA said, they didn't understand the physics of what was going on with the thrusters.

So they got the thrusters working again, but they couldn't work out why, which is always a worry in engineering. So they sent the spacecraft back to Earth without the astronauts, leaving the astronauts on the space station.

So they got the thrusters working again, but they couldn't work out why, which is always a worry in engineering. So they sent the spacecraft back to Earth without the astronauts, leaving the astronauts on the space station.

I mean, the going for a few days expectation was an issue in terms of their personal possessions. And clothes. You packed lightly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, you go away for a weekend. Cabin baggage only. Exactly. Exactly that.

I mean, the going for a few days expectation was an issue in terms of their personal possessions. And clothes. You packed lightly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, you go away for a weekend. Cabin baggage only. Exactly. Exactly that.

So literally their suitcases, well, not quite suitcases, but the equivalent, the space equivalent, had to be sent up later on as it became clear they were going to spend longer in space. But I mean, they are incredibly experienced astronauts, very personal. I've actually been at a party with Sonny Williams, which is a great name drop. I love that. Hanging out with astronauts. What do you like?

So literally their suitcases, well, not quite suitcases, but the equivalent, the space equivalent, had to be sent up later on as it became clear they were going to spend longer in space. But I mean, they are incredibly experienced astronauts, very personal. I've actually been at a party with Sonny Williams, which is a great name drop. I love that. Hanging out with astronauts. What do you like?

Oh, lovely. Absolutely lovely. You've got to be. I mean, that's one of the main criteria for astronauts. We get sort of obsessed with this idea of the right stuff, that these are sort of superhuman. And they are. They're better than all of us, astronauts. But they're also amazing team players. They get on with people. And you've got to if you're stuck in this space station with six other people.

Oh, lovely. Absolutely lovely. You've got to be. I mean, that's one of the main criteria for astronauts. We get sort of obsessed with this idea of the right stuff, that these are sort of superhuman. And they are. They're better than all of us, astronauts. But they're also amazing team players. They get on with people. And you've got to if you're stuck in this space station with six other people.

You have very much so. Or knowing when to spend time on your own, for example. The space station is big enough. You've got currently seven astronauts on the space station. There are enough places to just be on your own or just stare out of the window.

You have very much so. Or knowing when to spend time on your own, for example. The space station is big enough. You've got currently seven astronauts on the space station. There are enough places to just be on your own or just stare out of the window.

Well, I would say their biggest achievement was fixing the urine recycling system on the space station. So water is recycled. And that means that astronaut urine, astronaut sweat is turned back into drinking water. And there was a problem with that. Before, Sonny Williams particularly is a bit of an expert on space plumbing.

Well, I would say their biggest achievement was fixing the urine recycling system on the space station. So water is recycled. And that means that astronaut urine, astronaut sweat is turned back into drinking water. And there was a problem with that. Before, Sonny Williams particularly is a bit of an expert on space plumbing.