Wilmore and Williams Reflect on Return from Extended Starliner Mission
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are readjusting to life on Earth after an unplanned nine-month stay on the International Space Station (ISS). Since their return, the two have been enjoying simple pleasures like dog walks and family time while preparing to help Boeing improve its Starliner spacecraft.
Williams shared her experience of returning to Earth, saying, “Laying down on a bed for the first time in nine months was pretty awesome. I just crashed until the next day.” She also spoke about the challenge of adjusting to gravity again, describing the physical effort required to move normally.
The astronauts returned to Earth in March aboard a SpaceX capsule. After their arrival, they completed standard health checks with NASA’s astronaut office before reuniting with their families.
NASA Astronauts working with Boeing After Starliner Issues
NASA astronauts Wilmore and Williams were the first crew to ride Boeing’s troubled Starliner capsule last year. The original mission was planned to last eight days, but due to propulsion issues, it stretched into a nine-month ordeal. As a result, NASA decided to bring the capsule back without its crew.
Now back on Earth, the astronauts plan to meet Boeing leaders to share their insights. “We had a very unique perspective of being in the spacecraft,” Williams said. “We’ll be discussing where we stand and where we think we need to go.”
NASA and Boeing are set to test the Starliner’s propulsion system on the ground this summer. A new uncrewed test flight is expected in early 2026. This will be Boeing’s third uncrewed attempt since the project began and has already cost over $2 billion since 2016.
Starliner’s Future and NASA’s Need for Redundancy
Williams believes another uncrewed flight is the right decision. She noted that new parts will be added or replaced in the capsule. “We’d really like to test that out and see how it works. I think that’s probably a smart, wise idea,” she added.
Both Wilmore and Williams, who are former US Navy test pilots, were chosen in 2022 as the test crew for Starliner. NASA continues to support Starliner as a backup option to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which has been in service since 2020 and remains the agency’s only active transport to space.
The ISS has hosted international astronauts continuously for over 25 years. It serves as a vital research lab in space, helping scientists study how spaceflight affects the human body, including muscle loss and vision issues.
with inputs from Reuters