Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, are finally coming home after an unexpected nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Originally, their mission was supposed to last just nine days, but a series of technical failures with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft turned their short trip into an extended stay.
Wilmore and Williams will be joined by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov as they make their long-awaited return. Their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule is set to splash down on Earth at approximately 5:57 p.m. ET on Tuesday, completing a journey that took far longer than anyone had planned.
A Mission Gone Wrong
Back in June 2024, Wilmore and Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner on what was meant to be a brief test flight. The mission was designed to assess the spacecraft’s ability to transport astronauts to and from the ISS as part of NASA’s commercial crew program, which aims to have both Boeing and SpaceX operating routine flights.
However, things didn’t go as planned. When Starliner attempted to dock with the ISS, multiple thrusters failed, raising concerns about whether the spacecraft could safely bring the astronauts home. NASA ultimately made the tough decision to send Starliner back to Earth—empty.
With no immediate alternative, Wilmore and Williams were forced to remain on the ISS while NASA figured out how to bring them back.
The SpaceX Rescue
NASA decided to return Wilmore and Williams on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft instead. To accommodate them, NASA had to adjust its astronaut rotations. Two astronauts from SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission—who were scheduled to return—were removed to make space for Wilmore and Williams.
Crew rotations at the ISS follow a structured schedule. When a new group arrives, the existing crew members complete a formal handover before departing. The delays with Crew-10’s launch caused further setbacks, keeping Wilmore and Williams in orbit even longer.
After months of waiting, the Crew-10 mission successfully launched last Friday and docked at the ISS 29 hours later, allowing the long-overdue return of Wilmore and Williams.
What’s Next for Boeing’s Starliner?
The failure of Starliner’s crewed test flight has cast serious doubts over Boeing’s future in human spaceflight. NASA had initially hoped that both Boeing and SpaceX would provide regular crew transportation to the ISS. However, with SpaceX proving far more reliable and Boeing struggling with repeated setbacks, the future of Starliner remains uncertain.
Boeing has already lost over $2 billion on the Starliner program, and it’s unclear whether NASA will continue to rely on the spacecraft or shift entirely to SpaceX.
The Astronauts’ Perspective
Despite the unexpected turn of events, Wilmore and Williams made the most of their extended stay on the ISS. They participated in scientific research, conducted maintenance work, and even performed a spacewalk.
Williams, reflecting on the experience, reassured the public that they never felt abandoned. “It’s been a roller coaster, probably more so for our families than for us,” she said. “But I’m excited to get home and see my family and my two dogs.”
As they prepare to return to Earth, one thing is clear: their mission will be remembered as one of the most unexpected twists in modern space travel.
