A Nasa astronaut stuck in orbit for about nine months has said he would fly back to space on Boeing’s Starliner, adding that the company is “completely committed” to fixing the capsule for future missions.
“We’re going to rectify all the issues that we encountered,” Butch Wilmore told reporters on Monday. “We’re going to make it work. Boeing is completely committed, Nasa is completely committed.”
Mr Wilmore and crewmate Suni Williams returned to Earth on March 18, after spending months living on the International Space Station.
Their extended stay in orbit captured the world’s attention, with many calling them the “stranded” astronauts, since Nasa decided to bring them home on a different vehicle than the one that brought them to space.
The astronauts, and crew member Nick Hague, appeared upbeat, healthy and happy to be home during Monday’s news conference. They shared stories about reuniting with family and an intense cycle of rehabilitation to recover from the prolonged space flight. Ms Williams said she recently ran 5km. Mr Wilmore spoke about spending time with family and the importance of his Christian faith.
The astronauts are expected to meet Boeing programme managers and engineers on Wednesday to discuss issues with Starliner, Mr Wilmore added.
The duo were launched to the ISS in June on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, for what was supposed to be a roughly week-long mission to determine if the vehicle was safe to transport astronauts.
But after Starliner experienced numerous technical issues with its thrusters during the trip, Nasa decided that Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams would return home on a SpaceX Dragon capsule instead – one that was slated to return in the spring.
“I’d go back in a heartbeat,” Mr Williams told Fox News in an interview that aired earlier on Monday.
The pair undocked from the ISS and splashed down off the coast of Florida in a SpaceX Dragon capsule. After undergoing some medical checks, they flew to Houston, where they were reunited with their families.
Mr Wilmore told reporters the responsibility for a flawed mission extends to everyone involved.
“I could have asked some questions and the answers to those questions could have turned the tide,” Mr Wilmore said. “We all are responsible. We all own this.”
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
The Saudi Cup race card
1 The Jockey Club Local Handicap (TB) 1,800m (Dirt) $500,000
2 The Riyadh Dirt Sprint (TB) 1,200m (D) $1.500,000
3 The 1351 Turf Sprint 1,351m (Turf) $1,000,000
4 The Saudi Derby (TB) 1600m (D) $800,000
5 The Neom Turf Cup (TB) 2,100m (T) $1,000,000
6 The Obaiya Arabian Classic (PB) 2,000m (D) $1,900,000
7 The Red Sea Turf Handicap (TB) 3,000m (T) $2,500,000
8 The Saudi Cup (TB) 1,800m (D) $20,000,000