Not only that, but they had already tried a few times before, at least one 17 days long! > After the first three flights, the plane had never stayed aloft long

Not only that, but they had already tried a few times before, at least one 17 days long! > After the first three flights, the plane had never stayed aloft longer than 17 days. Imagine going up there a third time, spending a day, then two, then a week, then two weeks, and then a few days later being forced to land... only to get up there again aiming for two months!