NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore became unexpectedly stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Their mission, initially planned for eight to ten days starting in June 2024, was extended to approximately nine months when the Starliner experienced propulsion system problems, including helium leaks and degraded thrusters.
These mechanical failures prevented the Starliner from safely returning the astronauts to Earth as scheduled. Consequently, Williams and Wilmore remained on the ISS, conducting scientific experiments and performing maintenance tasks during their extended stay. Their return to Earth was further delayed due to political controversies surrounding the mission.
Eventually, NASA coordinated with SpaceX to facilitate their return. On March 18, 2025, Williams and Wilmore, along with fellow astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, departed the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, Freedom. The capsule safely landed off the coast of Florida, concluding their prolonged mission.
For more details on their return journey, you can watch the following video: