Two astronauts, Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, are living an unplanned saga aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after their eight-day mission turned into a months-long ordeal.
On June 5, 2024, they launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule, the first crew to test the spacecraft. But technical malfunctions, including thruster issues and helium leaks, derailed the mission. NASA deemed the Starliner too risky for reentry, extending their stay until February 2025, when they’re slated to return via SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
Despite the challenges, Williams and Wilmore adapted, contributing to ISS operations, conducting experiments, and even repairing broken systems. “We’re just on a different path,” Wilmore said, maintaining optimism. Williams added, “Living in space is super fun.”