NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were unexpectedly stuck in space for nearly a year, from June 2024 to March 2025. The pair, who were on an eight-day test flight, faced the possibility that they may not return home to Earth due to mechanical issues with their spacecraft.
In a new BBC interview, Wilmore shared his thoughts on the situation, saying “if we weren’t able to dock, would we be able to make it back? We didn’t know.” The astronauts, who had to consider the worst-case scenario, relied on each other’s intuition and training to stay focused on finding solutions.
Despite thinking about not returning home, both Wilmore and Williams refused to verbalize their concerns due to their astronaut training. Instead, they “sort of read each other’s mind” and prioritized problem-solving together.
The astronauts had planned for the unexpected delay but did prepare their families in advance. Wilmore had told his daughters that he might not be back on Earth within eight days, a conversation that helped them cope with the uncertainty.
During their time in space, Williams and Wilmore celebrated holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, even held a press conference from space to share updates with the media. Despite the challenges, they described their experience as “fun” and highlighted the importance of teamwork and support from NASA.
Their return to Earth was finally confirmed last December, and after weeks of troubleshooting, the spacecraft was sent back without them, paving the way for their safe landing on March 18.
Source: https://people.com/stranded-nasa-astronauts-share-new-details-about-being-stuck-in-space-for-9-months-11746000