What was supposed to be a routine test flight for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft turned into an unplanned, record-setting mission for veteran NASA astronaut Sunita Williams.

Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore finally returned to Earth on March 18, 2025, after spending more than nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS)—far longer than the eight days originally planned.

Their extended stay was the result of critical technical failures on the Starliner, leaving them without a way home until NASA arranged their return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

Here’s how their mission unfolded and what it means for the future of human spaceflight.

Sunita “Suni” Williams, 59, is no stranger to long-duration space missions. A retired US Navy test pilot and NASA astronaut since 1998, she has spent over 322 days in space across multiple missions and held the record for most spacewalk hours by a female astronaut until 2017.

Her current mission with Butch Wilmore, 62, was intended as a short-term test of Boeing’s Starliner, a spacecraft designed to provide an alternative to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS.

Williams and Wilmore launched aboard the Boeing Starliner on June 5, 2024, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Their mission was meant to be a crucial step in certifying the Starliner for regular crewed missions.

But within hours, problems emerged. Helium leaks and thruster malfunctions raised red flags. While the spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS, further inspections revealed the issues were severe enough to make a return trip unsafe.

NASA made the difficult decision to keep Williams and Wilmore aboard the ISS indefinitely while engineers assessed the situation.

Rather than sitting idle, Williams and Wilmore fully integrated into ISS operations. They assisted with scientific research, station maintenance, and even completed a spacewalk together in January 2025.

Despite the uncertainty, both astronauts remained in good spirits. Williams, in a November 2024 interview, reassured the public, saying, “We’re feeling good, working out, eating right… People who are worried about us, really, don’t worry about us. We’re a happy crew up here.”

Their physical well-being was carefully managed. The astronauts followed a strict exercise regimen to counteract muscle and bone loss in microgravity, and regular supply missions ensured they had sufficient food and essentials—even allowing them to enjoy a special holiday meal aboard the station.

While NASA initially hoped to fix the Starliner and bring them back within a few months, engineers ultimately ruled out that option. Instead, plans were made for Williams and Wilmore to return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

However, NASA delayed their return until a new crew could replace them. That replacement crew—Crew-10, consisting of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian astronaut Kirill Peskov—finally arrived in March 2025.

With their replacements in place, Williams and Wilmore boarded the Crew Dragon, undocking from the ISS at 1:05 am ET (10:35 am IST) on March 18, 2025. Seventeen hours later, they splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida at 6:00 pm ET (3:30 a.m. IST, March 19), marking the end of an unexpected but historic mission.

As NASA prepares for upcoming Artemis lunar missions and eventual crewed flights to Mars, lessons from Williams’ Starliner mission will help shape future space exploration strategies.

Source: indianexpress