Stranded Astronauts Speak After Safe Return Home

After spending over nine months in space, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally returned to Earth. Their journey, which was supposed to last only eight days, was extended due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. In their first interviews since their return, the astronauts opened up about their experience, the challenges they faced, and the joy of reuniting with their loved ones.

How They Got Stuck in Space

Williams and Wilmore launched aboard the Boeing Starliner in June 2024 for what was meant to be a short test mission to the International Space Station (ISS). However, technical problems with the spacecraft made it unsafe for them to return to Earth as planned. Instead of a quick trip, the astronauts ended up staying on the ISS for 286 days while NASA and Boeing worked to find a solution.

Adapting to the Unexpected

"My first thought was we've just got to pivot," Williams recalled. "If our spacecraft was going to go home based on decisions made here, and we were going to be up there 'til February, I was like, 'Let's make the best of it.'" She expressed excitement about witnessing scientific experiments and seeing changes made to the ISS since her last visit.