Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore faced a critical situation during a Boeing Starliner test flight last year. Thruster failure prevented them from docking with the International Space Station (ISS), raising serious concerns about their safe return to Earth.
Wilmore recounted to the BBC, two months after their eventual return, “Docking was imperative. If we weren’t able to dock, would we be able to make it back? We didn’t know.”
Their planned eight-day mission extended to nearly ten months. Initial efforts focused on a successful ISS docking, achieved after ground control assisted in restarting the thrusters. The astronauts acknowledged considering the possibility of never returning to Earth, but maintained a professional focus on problem-solving.
Williams explained their approach: “You sort of read each other’s mind and know where we’re going with all the failures… At the same time, you know, we’re like, what do we have? What can we do?”
The incident, which began in June 2024, involved the first crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Subsequent technical issues deemed a Starliner return too risky, leading to their extended stay until a SpaceX capsule facilitated their return on March 18th.
Boeing maintained Starliner’s safety, a claim supported by the craft’s subsequent uncrewed return in September 2024. While reports characterized the astronauts as “stranded,” the ISS always has attached spacecraft capable of emergency return transport.
Despite the prolonged mission, Williams emphasized their confidence in support from Earth: “We knew nobody was going to just let us down… we knew everybody had our back and was looking out for us.”
The situation even became entangled in US politics, with President Trump criticizing his predecessor. The astronauts, however, remained focused on their mission, prioritizing the complexities of human spaceflight.
After their return, both astronauts reported excellent physical condition, attributing this to their rigorous space-based exercise regimen. Wilmore described his daily workouts, resulting in unprecedented physical strength upon their return. While adjusting to Earth’s gravity presented challenges, both astronauts expressed a willingness to fly on Starliner again, pending resolution of technical issues.
Williams concluded, “It’s a very capable spacecraft… It has unique capabilities compared to other spacecraft that are really great for future astronauts to fly.”
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