NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams are finally back on Earth after an unexpected nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Despite the setbacks, they say they’d still fly on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft again.
A Mission Meant to Last Days, Not Months
Wilmore and Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule on June 5, 2023, expecting a short test mission. But what started as a quick trip turned into a 286-day journey due to technical failures and safety concerns.
Problems started when Starliner experienced thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, forcing the astronauts to guide the capsule to dock with the ISS manually. The plan to return them to Earth was delayed repeatedly as NASA and Boeing engineers worked to understand and fix the issues.
“We Own This,” Say the Astronauts
In their first press conference since returning to Earth, both astronauts emphasized accountability. Wilmore took personal responsibility for not asking more questions before the flight.
“I’ll start and point the finger and I’ll blame me,” he said. “We all are responsible. We all own this.”
Despite the rocky experience, both Wilmore and Williams expressed strong support for Starliner. “We’re going to rectify all the issues… We’re going to make it work,” Wilmore added.
Williams echoed the sentiment, saying the spacecraft has “a lot of capability,” and she wants to see it succeed.
Rescued by SpaceX
With Starliner deemed unsafe for their return, NASA turned to SpaceX. The astronauts’ mission was extended while their replacements’ launch faced delays, turning the short visit into a long-term assignment. Finally, on March 18, 2024, SpaceX brought them home with a smooth splashdown off the Florida Panhandle.
What’s Next for Starliner?
NASA still doesn’t fully understand why the thrusters failed or what caused the helium leaks. Engineers plan more testing throughout the summer. If problems can be solved, another Starliner test flight, this time uncrewed, might take place by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, NASA remains committed to having two commercial partners, SpaceX and Boeing, for ISS transport. But the clock is ticking. The current space station will be retired in about five years and replaced by private space labs, making time for Boeing to prove itself increasingly limited.
