On June 5, 2024, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore soared right into a blue sky in a brand new Boeing capsule known as Starliner. Their mission? To check the spacecraft, dock with the Worldwide House Station (ISS), after which return dwelling a number of days later.
As a substitute, the pair returned in a SpaceX Crew Dragon on March 18 — greater than 9 months later.
On its inaugural mission, Starliner, or CST-100, had skilled a number of issues, together with helium leaks and thruster points.
Between Boeing and NASA, together with Williams and Wilmore, it was determined it could be finest to return the capsule with out the crew, because of security issues.
It was safely introduced dwelling in September, with the astronauts left to attend for another trip again.
WATCH | Astronauts Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams exit SpaceX capsule aboard restoration vessel:
Astronauts Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams exit SpaceX capsule aboard restoration vessel
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose weeklong mission to the Worldwide House Station unexpectedly stretched right into a nine-month keep, returned to Earth on Tuesday as a part of a four-person crew aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The capsule was hoisted out of the water onto a ship earlier than the crew had been helped out one after the other.
It was extensively reported throughout social media and information retailers that the astronauts had been “caught” or “stranded” on the ISS. However of their first information convention since returning, each Williams and Wilmore mentioned they did not really feel that manner.
“We heard about that,” Williams laughed, talking in response to that narrative on Monday.
Wilmore mentioned it was all about planning.
“We have mentioned this earlier than: We had a plan, proper? The plan went manner off for what we had deliberate. However as a result of we’re in human spaceflight, we put together for any variety of contingencies,” he mentioned. “As a result of it is a curvy street. You by no means know the place it will go.”
As a substitute, Williams and Wilmore formally grew to become a part of the Expedition 71/72 crew, working and conducting experiments
They even carried out a spacewalk in January, making ready a spare elbow joint for the Canadarm2 robotic arm. It was the ninth spacewalk for Williams and the fifth for Wilmore.
Williams is hooked up to the Canadarm2 robotic arm’s latching finish effector, whereas being manoeuvered to her worksite on the ISS, some 425 kilometres above the South Pacific Ocean. (NASA)
The comforts of dwelling
Whereas they mentioned they loved their time on the ISS and the work they did, they had been glad to return to the comforts of dwelling. The primary issues they wished to do?
“I wished to hug my husband and hug my canines. And I am going to say in that order … perhaps not,” Williams mentioned, laughing. “No, I am simply joking.”
And as a vegetarian, she mentioned she additionally loved a grilled cheese sandwich.
For Wilmore, it was somewhat totally different.
“Definitely embracing the household once more,” Wilmore mentioned. “But additionally the chance — and I’ve already mentioned it a few instances — simply to say thanks to a nation that acquired concerned in all of this. It makes it particular, not only for us, however for all.”
On this picture offered by NASA, Boeing crew flight check astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams pose for a portrait contained in the vestibule between the Worldwide House Station’s Concord module and Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 13, 2024. (NASA/The Related Press)
When requested how onerous it was being away from family and friends for for much longer than deliberate, Wilmore admitted it was “tough.”
“It wasn’t within the preparation,” he mentioned. “However in my household, we discuss these prospects. We mentioned all of this. We by no means mentioned we had been going to be gone for 9 months — but it surely turned out that manner.”
Although they missed out on Thanksgiving and Christmas with their households, they mentioned they nonetheless had fun celebrating the vacations.
“We really had a reindeer that we constructed and rode like a bull,” Wilmore mentioned. “However we celebrated in fashion, belief me.”
The Expedition 72 crew acquired into the Christmas spirit aboard the Worldwide House Station utilizing extra {hardware}, cargo luggage and Santa hats to brighten the orbiting lab’s Unity module, with a well-known reindeer. (NASA)
It was additionally made simpler when crewmate Nick Hague arrived on the house station on Sept. 28; Williams mentioned he’d introduced up a number of surprises.
“He was like Santa Claus. (He) had his little bag of goodies for all of us, and it was fairly superior to have the vacations up there,” Williams mentioned. “It is fairly distinctive and never many people get to try this.”
As for reconditioning and adapting again to gravity, Williams mentioned she’s been adjusting nicely.
“Our groups listed here are getting us able to get able to tackle new challenges,” Williams mentioned. “So, you recognize, feeling good since we have been again virtually two weeks now. I really went out and ran three miles yesterday. So I’ll give myself somewhat pat on the again.”
Williams is helped out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft onboard the SpaceX restoration ship MEGAN after she landed within the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Fla., on March 18, 2025. She got here again with fellow NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. (NASA/Keegan Barber)
So would they fly on Starliner once more?
“Sure, as a result of we’ll rectify all the problems that we encountered. We’ll repair it. We’ll make it work,” Wilmore mentioned. “Boeing’s fully dedicated. NASA is totally dedicated. And with that, I might get on in a heartbeat.”
Williams agreed.
“Yeah, I might,” she mentioned. “The spacecraft is actually succesful. There have been a pair issues that should be mounted … and folk are actively engaged on that, but it surely’s an awesome spacecraft.”
