NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were unexpectedly stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Their mission, initially intended to last only eight days starting in June 2024, was prolonged after the Starliner experienced propulsion system helium leaks and thruster malfunctions during its rendezvous with the ISS.
These problems prevented their scheduled return to Earth, compelling NASA to extend their stay and eventually arrange for their return using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule.
Throughout their extended mission, Williams and Wilmore conducted various scientific experiments and maintenance tasks on the ISS. They celebrated multiple holidays in space, including Thanksgiving and Christmas, and even participated in the 2024 U.S. elections.
Their prolonged stay highlighted the challenges of relying on emerging commercial spacecraft for crewed missions. While SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has proven reliable, the Starliner’s technical issues underscored the complexities involved in developing new spaceflight technologies.