Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams came back to Earth on Tuesday evening after almost a year spent in space, due to a series of complications with their initial trip aboard Boeing’s Starliner.
The journey began in June when problems cropped up during the test flight for the new Boeing crew capsule. The astronauts ended up transferring to a SpaceX capsule, leading to a longer-than-expected stay on the International Space Station (ISS), with their return being continuously delayed.
The astronauts recent departure was slightly advanced due to uncertain weather conditions forecasted later in the week. They were greeted with medical checks shortly after leaving the capsule.
Wilmore and Williams conducted numerous experiments and even broke a record for the most hours spent spacewalking among female astronauts. Their time in space also saw political interference in their return schedule. Despite this, the astronaunts remained calm and showed faith in NASA’s decisions throughout their stay.
The longer time in space allowed them to fully integrate into the ISS crew, showcasing the flexibility of future space missions. NASA will continue to rely on SpaceX for transport at least until summer, while Boeing faces further scrutiny with its Starliner capsule.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/03/19/butch-and-suni-are-home-nasa-astronauts-return-to-earth-after-being-stuck-in-space-for-nin
