NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were unexpectedly stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Their mission, initially intended to last eight days, began in June 2024. However, upon attempting to return to Earth, the Starliner experienced propulsion failures and helium leaks, preventing their departure.
To address this situation, NASA coordinated with SpaceX, arranging for Williams and Wilmore to return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. They undocked from the ISS on March 18, 2025, and safely splashed down off the coast of Florida later that day.