NASA astronauts speak after unexpected 9-month stay on the International Space Station

‘I wanted to hug my husband and hug my dogs’ astronaut Suni Williams said of her return home

​NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams have returned to Earth after an unexpected nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Originally slated for a brief stay as part of Boeing’s Starliner Crew Flight Test, their mission was extended due to technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft.​

Wilmore and Williams launched on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s Starliner for what was intended to be an eight-day mission. However, propulsion system malfunctions and helium leaks in the spacecraft necessitated an extended stay on the ISS, integrating them into Expeditions 71 and 72.​

During their prolonged mission, both astronauts contributed significantly to various scientific experiments and station maintenance. Williams, in particular, set a new record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut during a 5-hour, 26-minute EVA on January 30, 2025.​news+1Latest news & breaking headlines+1

The duo returned to Earth on March 18, 2025, aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, marking the completion of their unexpected extended mission. Upon arrival, they expressed confidence in Boeing’s Starliner, emphasizing their willingness to fly on it again and highlighting the collective responsibility in addressing the spacecraft’s challenges.​

Their return marks a significant milestone in NASA’s ongoing efforts to diversify its crewed spaceflight capabilities, underscoring the importance of resilience and adaptability in space missions.