Astronauts in space for nine months didn't know if they would 'be able to make it back'

[k_buddy762]

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clygd1vl9yeo

When astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore approached the International Space Station (ISS) last year with failing thrusters on their Boeing Starliner capsule, they were unable to fly forward to dock.

And if they couldn't dock, they didn't know if they could make it back home again.

"Docking was imperative," Mr Wilmore told BBC News, two months after he and Ms Williams finally made a successful return to Earth. "If we weren't able to dock, would we be able to make it back? We didn't know."

[slightlv]

1. Astronauts are some of the bravest people

I can think of. Everything in Space wants to kill you. Just existing is a sheer miracle up there. Since I was a kid, I thought of how neat it would be to actually go into Space. Then I grew up and got old (gryn). I could actually put myself in their shoes and admit I'd be scared witless. Love of exploration and the most courageous of explorers... it blew my mind when I made that realization, and it still blows my mind that there are people out there that brave.

Funny how the passing of time can impact your whole thought process on a situation you thought you'd already over-thought! Getting older = getting wiser? Or is it just that we lose that feeling of invincibility as you can see and feel your days being numbered.