(NewsNation) — An astronaut who was formerly stuck in space for a month revealed how he managed to stay positive amid uncertainty.
“I looked at it like ‘I’ve got the rest of my life on earth, I’m going to make the most of my time in space,’” Terry Virts said on NewsNation’s “Morning in America with Hena Doba.”
Virts said without that mantra, things could have become “pretty depressing.”
The replacements for NASA’s two stuck astronauts launched to the International Space Station on Friday night, paving the way for the pair’s return after nine long months.
Virts commended crews on the ground for keeping supplies flowing to the astronauts.
“Those types of little logistics, things that you wouldn’t think about. NASA did great,” said Virts. “They got the things that they needed. One of the biggest things: you have to have exercise shoes and that’s super important because you have to exercise. Because if you don’t, your bones and your muscles start to deteriorate.”
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams need SpaceX to get this relief team to the space station before they can check out. Arrival is set for late Saturday night.
The duo will be escorted back by astronauts who flew up on a rescue mission on SpaceX last September alongside two empty seats reserved for Wilmore and Williams on the return leg.