Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore spent nearly nine months in space after their Boeing Starliner capsule experienced technical issues during its eight-day test flight. The pair’s mission was deemed too high-risk, forcing them to wait for a SpaceX rescue instead of returning home as planned.
Docking safely at the International Space Station (ISS) was the first challenge they faced, which they managed with the help of Mission Control restarting their craft’s thrusters. Despite facing uncertainty about their return home, the astronauts remained focused on finding solutions, saying they “read each other’s mind” to tackle failures.
The pair eventually returned to Earth in March after months of experiments aboard the space station. Their stay was longer than expected, but Nasa and Boeing assured them that they were always safe. The astronauts even joked about being “stranded,” but actually had access to emergency spacecraft if needed.
After their return, Williams and Wilmore spoke out about the challenges they faced, including a public spat with US President Donald Trump. However, they remained optimistic, saying they’re feeling fit and well after working out in zero gravity.
The astronauts are now working with Nasa and Boeing to resolve issues with the malfunctioning spacecraft. They expressed hope for future opportunities to fly on the Starliner, which they believe has unique capabilities for future astronauts. Both stated they would personally fly on the craft again once technical issues are resolved.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clygd1vl9yeo