NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams return to normal life after an extended 9-month mission that was originally planned for just 8 days, revealing challenges in their recovery and advocating for stricter spacecraft testing protocols.
At a Glance
- Astronauts Wilmore and Williams completed a 45-day rehabilitation period after returning from their unexpectedly extended ISS mission
- The mission, initially planned for one week, stretched to nine months due to Boeing Starliner spacecraft issues
- Both astronauts returned on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after Starliner was sent back to Earth uncrewed
- The astronauts are advocating for another uncrewed Starliner test flight before human missions resume
- The extended mission became subject to political controversy during the 2024 presidential campaign
Prolonged Mission Takes Physical Toll
NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams have completed their standard 45-day rehabilitation period after returning from the International Space Station. Their mission, originally planned as an eight-day test flight aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, unexpectedly extended to nine months due to technical issues with the vehicle. Both astronauts spent their recovery period reconditioning muscles and regaining balance after the extended exposure to zero gravity.
“Right now, we’re just coming off of the rehab portion of our return,” Wilmore said. “It’s been a little bit of a whirlwind.”
Williams reported experiencing significant fatigue following her return, with particular difficulty maintaining her usual early-morning routine. These symptoms have recently improved as her body readjusts to Earth’s gravity. Wilmore faced different challenges, with pre-existing neck problems that had disappeared in space returning upon his reentry to Earth’s gravitational field. Despite these physical hurdles, both astronauts have already resumed work with Boeing’s Starliner program and NASA’s space station division.
F9/Crew 9: Some are calling this a "rescue" mission because Hague and Gorbunov will bring Starliner commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Sunita Williams back to Earth after problems prevented a landing in their own spacecraft earlier this summer. For what it's worth, this is not a…
— William Harwood (@cbs_spacenews) September 28, 2024
Starliner Issues and Return Journey
The mission’s extension resulted from propulsion system problems with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which had to be returned to Earth without its crew. The astronauts eventually returned on a SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft, highlighting the importance of redundancy in America’s space transportation systems. Boeing has faced significant financial consequences from the Starliner development issues, with questions now arising about the spacecraft’s future.
“I’ll start with me. There were questions that I, as a commander of the spacecraft, that I should have asked, and I did not. At the time, I didn’t know I needed to. And maybe you could call that hindsight. But I’ll start and point the finger, and I’ll blame me. I could’ve asked some questions, and the answers to those questions could have turned the tide.”, Wilmore said.
Wilmore later clarified his stance on responsibility, noting that while he dislikes the term “blame,” responsibility extends throughout the entire program. He emphasized that Boeing, NASA, and individuals at all levels share ownership of the mission’s outcome. The spacecraft’s issues have led to discussions about requiring another uncrewed test flight before Starliner carries human passengers again.
Political Controversy and Future Testing
The extended mission became entangled in political rhetoric during the 2024 presidential campaign when former President Donald Trump incorrectly claimed the astronauts had been abandoned in space by the Biden administration. NASA officials and the astronauts themselves clarified that their return had been planned well in advance, with NASA astronaut Nick Hague stating that politics did not affect mission decisions or timelines.
Looking ahead, both astronauts support conducting another uncrewed Starliner test flight before resuming human missions. Williams directly endorsed this approach, stating, “I think that’s the correct path.” This position aligns with standard procedures previously followed by SpaceX and Russian space programs, prioritizing comprehensive testing and safety validation. Boeing and NASA are currently analyzing results from Starliner’s performance to determine next steps for the program.
