HOUSTON (Diya TV) — NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who just returned from an unplanned nine-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS), spoke out against rumors surrounding their prolonged duration and showed trust in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft at a press briefing on March 31.
Scheduled initially for release in a short test flight in June 2024, Wilmore and Williams faced propulsion problems with the Starliner capsule, resulting in an extended mission to their return through a SpaceX Dragon capsule on March 18, 2025. Wilmore insisted that even though their return was postponed, they were not “stuck” or “abandoned” in space. He accepted collective responsibility for the difficulties of the mission when he said, “Everybody has a piece in this because it did not come off. There were some shortcomings in tests, shortcomings in preparation that we did not foresee.
Williams emphasized their flexibility throughout the lengthy mission, looking forward to being part of ongoing scientific experiments on the ISS. She noted, “I was excited about living in space and enjoyed seeing how the space station had changed since I was there last.
In response to political stories claiming they were “abandoned,” Wilmore and Williams insisted their concentration stayed fixed on mission objectives, independent of outside critique. According to Wilmore, “We were planning on one thing, preparing on another,” stressing readiness for surprise situations.
Both of the astronauts maintained strong faith in the Starliner program despite the malfunctions. Wilmore stated emphatically, “We’re going to get it fixed, we’re going to make it work. Boeing’s committed. NASA’s committed. And with that, I’d fly on in a heartbeat.”
On their return, Wilmore and Williams are adjusting to life on Earth, performing normal activities and visiting with family. They are working with Boeing and NASA to review the mission and make changes to the Starliner spacecraft to improve the safety and success of future missions.
