Last year, when astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore neared the International Space Station (ISS) in their Boeing Starliner capsule, they encountered thruster failures that prevented them from docking successfully.
Uncertainty arose about their ability to return home if docking failed.
“Docking was critical,” Mr. Wilmore recounted to BBC News, two months post their eventual safe return to Earth. “If we couldn’t dock, would we get back? We had no idea.”
Their planned eight-day test flight unexpectedly extended to nearly 10 months in space.
The first hurdle was successful docking at the ISS, achieved a few minutes after Mission Control guided them in restarting the capsule’s thrusters.
Mr. Wilmore expressed that the thought of possibly never returning to Earth “definitely crossed our minds.”
However, both astronauts chose not to vocalize their worst fears, focusing instead on problem-solving, as their training dictated.
“You kind of read each other’s thoughts and understand our direction through these setbacks,” Ms. Williams shared with the BBC.
“These challenges were unexpected,” she acknowledged, but their minds quickly shifted to solutions: “We were thinking, what resources do we have? What can we do?”
Their journey began in June 2024 as they participated in the inaugural crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
However, after encountering several technical issues, the decision was made that it was too risky for the Starliner to bring them home as planned, leading to arrangements for a return via SpaceX.
Consequently, they remained in orbit until they secured passage back on a SpaceX capsule. Boeing maintained that its capsule was safe, supported by its successful uncrewed return in September 2024.
After months of research aboard the ISS, Ms. Williams and Mr. Wilmore finally returned to Earth on March 18.
During their extended mission, they were often described as stranded, suggesting they had no way to exit the ISS.
In reality, the ISS always has attached spacecraft that could function as lifeboats in case of emergencies.
Although their mission exceeded expectations, the astronauts embraced the situation.
“We knew no one was going to abandon us… everyone was supporting us,” Ms. Williams stated.
Amid their circumstance, they found themselves part of a political discussion, as President Donald Trump criticized Joe Biden for their situation in space.
However, the astronauts chose to disregard the politics, feeling no sense of abandonment. “We can’t comment on that,” Mr. Wilmore said. “Space travel is challenging; human space travel is even more complex.”
After two months back on Earth, both astronauts report feeling healthy and strong, thanks to their workout routines in the zero-gravity environment.
Mr. Wilmore mentioned that exercising in zero gravity minimizes recovery time after daily squats and deadlifts.
He stated he performed his strength exercises “daily for almost 10 months,” resulting in him returning to Earth “stronger than ever.”
Ms. Williams concurred—having gone running within days of her return and having completed a full marathon in space on a treadmill—but noted that adjusting back to Earth’s gravity can be challenging.
“Re-acclimating to gravity can be a bit painful,” she commented.
Since their return, they have been collaborating with NASA and Boeing to resolve issues with the malfunctioning spacecraft that initially launched them.
“We are very optimistic about opportunities for future Boeing Starliner flights,” Mr. Wilmore expressed.
Both astronauts stated they would be willing to fly in the Starliner again once the technical issues are resolved.
“It’s a highly capable spacecraft,” Ms. Williams remarked. “It possesses unique features compared to others, making it an excellent option for future astronauts.”