After nine months stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to technical failures with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are finally preparing for their long-awaited journey home. The duo, originally scheduled for a short test flight, will return aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule as soon as Tuesday, marking an unusual spacecraft switch in NASA’s commercial crew program.
Both Wilmore, 62, and Williams, 59, are highly experienced test pilots and former Navy officers. Each had previously completed monthslong missions aboard the ISS, but their current extended stay was never part of the original plan.
While they have remained dedicated to their mission, both astronauts admit that the unexpected delay has been hardest on their families. Wilmore, a Baptist church elder, looks forward to returning to his congregation and enjoying simple Earthly pleasures like fresh-cut grass. Williams is eager for long walks with her dogs and an ocean swim.
NASA typically ensures that astronauts return on the same spacecraft in which they launched, but this mission has been anything but typical.
- Wilmore and Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule in June 2024 as part of a highly anticipated test flight.
- Shortly after liftoff, helium leaks and thruster failures compromised Starliner’s ability to safely return astronauts to Earth.
- NASA deemed it too risky to bring them back in Starliner, instead returning the capsule empty in September for further investigation.
- With no immediate fix for Starliner’s issues, NASA arranged for Wilmore and Williams to return aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, which has been docked at the ISS since last fall.
The astronauts’ prolonged mission became a political flashpoint earlier this year when President Donald Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk accused the Biden administration of delaying their return.
NASA officials rejected the claims, insisting the astronauts were never in danger and emphasizing that their return was always aligned with the next scheduled SpaceX crew rotation.
“It’s great to see how much people care about our astronauts,” said NASA’s Ken Bowersox, describing Wilmore and Williams as “professional, devoted, and committed.”
The future of Starliner remains uncertain as Boeing and NASA continue investigating what went wrong with the capsule’s thrusters.
- NASA originally intended to have both SpaceX and Boeing operate commercial crew transport services for ISS missions, ensuring redundancy and competition.
- However, with multiple delays and safety concerns surrounding Starliner, it is unclear when—if ever—it will be cleared for another crewed flight.
With their replacements now aboard the ISS, Wilmore and Williams’ long wait is nearly over. After they touch down aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, they will undergo routine post-mission evaluations before reuniting with their families.
Their extended mission may not have gone as planned, but their dedication and resilience have captured the attention of the world.