This was my favorite moment of 2025 so far.
A triumph of the human will.
At that time, the assumption was Wilmore and Williams would be up there another three weeks.
What we’re finding out now is that the truth was much more horrific.
‘I don’t know if we can.
And matter of fact, I’m thinking we probably can’t.’
The space station is nose down.
‘So we’re not exactly level with the station, but below it.
If you’re below the station, you’re moving faster.
That’s orbital mechanics.
It’s going to make you move away from the station.
‘I’m doing all of this in my mind.
I don’t know what control I have.
What if I lose another thruster?
What if we lose comm?
What am I going to do?’
‘That was not easy to do,’ Wilmore added.
With near catastrophic system failure.
The helm barely responding.
Knowing that one more mechanical problem or one wrong decision could leave them as human satellites for all eternity.
This should serve as a reminder of how elite these people are.
They are truly the best of the best.
A total of 110 Americans met those qualifications.
While 69 of them were brought in for briefings on the program and the risks involved.
Of those, 53 volunteered.
That’s 77%.
So credit to all who serve.
And to Butch, you sir, are a steely-eyed missile man:
