Add news
News Every Day |

Who are the NASA astronauts stuck in space for 9 months?

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were barely known outside space circles when they strapped in for what was supposed to be a quick test flight of Boeing's Starliner capsule last June. Nine months later, they've captured the world's attention — and hearts — as NASA's stuck astronauts.

Their homecoming is imminent now that a new crew has arrived at the International Space Station to replace them after launching from Florida last week. They'll fly back with SpaceX as soon as Tuesday, their problem-plagued Starliner having returned to Earth empty months ago, leaving them behind in orbit.

Here's a look at "Suni and Butch" and their drama-filled mission:

Who are the stuck astronauts?

The two test pilots came to NASA via the Navy. Wilmore, 62, played high school and college football in his home state of Tennessee before joining the Navy. Williams, 59, grew up in Needham, Massachusetts, a competitive swimmer and distance runner.

Wilmore racked up 663 aircraft carrier landings, while Williams served in combat helicopter squadrons.

NASA picked Williams as an astronaut in 1998 followed by Wilmore in 2000. Each had two spaceflights behind them including monthslong stints at the space station before signing up as Starliner's first crew.

Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore make pizza aboard the International Space Station’s galley, located inside the Unity module, last September.

NASA photo/Distributed by the Associated Press

While they accepted their repeated homecoming delays, they noted it was much harder on their families. Wilmore's wife Deanna has held down the fort, according to her husband. Their oldest daughter is in college and their youngest in her last year of high school.

Williams' husband, Mike, a retired federal marshal, has been caring for their two Labrador retrievers. She said her mother is the worrier.

What are the stuck astronauts looking forward to on Earth?

Besides reuniting with loved ones, Wilmore, an elder with his Baptist church, can't wait to get back to face-to-face ministering and smelling fresh-cut grass.

Wilmore kept in touch with members of his congregation over the months, taking part in occasional prayer services and calling ailing members via the space station's internet phone.

Williams looks forward to long walks with her dogs and an ocean swim.

Crew from the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft enter the International Space Station on Sunday. Their arrival will enable the long-overdue departure of NASA duo Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The two former US Navy pilots have been stuck aboard the orbital lab since June after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft they flew to the station suffered propulsion issues on the way and was deemed unfit to fly them back to Earth.

AFP via Getty Images

Several other astronauts have spent even longer in space so no special precautions should be needed for these two once they're back, according to NASA.

"Every astronaut that launches into space, we teach them don't think about when you're coming home. Think about how well your mission's going and if you're lucky, you might get to stay longer," NASA's space operations mission chief and former astronaut Ken Bowersox said last week.

Why did the stuck astronauts switch space taxis?

Wilmore and Williams found themselves in the middle of a political storm when President Donald Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced at the end of January they would accelerate the astronauts' return and blamed the Biden Administration on keeping them up there too long.

NASA officials stood by their decision to wait for the next scheduled SpaceX flight to bring them home, targeting a February return. But their replacements got held up back on Earth because of battery work on their brand new SpaceX capsule.

Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore (left) and Suni Williams inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station’s Harmony module and Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

NASA photo/Distributed by the Associated Press

SpaceX switched capsules to speed things up, moving up their return by a couple of weeks. The two will come back in the capsule that's been up there since last fall.

"It's great to see how much people care about our astronauts," Bowersox said, describing the pair as "professional, devoted, committed, really outstanding."

Astronauts almost always fly back in the same spacecraft they launched in. Wilmore and Williams launched aboard Boeing's Starliner and will return in SpaceX's Dragon.

Their first flights were aboard NASA's space shuttle, followed by Russia's Soyuz capsule. Both the Starliner and Dragon are completely autonomous but capable of manual command if necessary.

As test pilots, they were in charge of the Starliner. The Dragon had fellow astronaut Nick Hague in command; he launched in it last September with a Russian and two empty seats reserved for Wilmore and Williams.

A photo provided by NASA shows Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft docked to the International Space Station’s Harmony module last year.

NASA photo/Distributed by the Associated Press

What’s the future of Boeing’s Starliner?

Starliner almost didn't make it to the space station. Soon after the June 5 liftoff, helium leaked and thrusters malfunctioned on the way to the orbiting lab.

NASA and Boeing spent the summer trying to figure out what went wrong and whether the problems would repeat on the flight back, endangering its two test pilots. NASA ultimately decided it was too risky and ordered the capsule back empty in September.

Engineers are still investigating the thruster breakdowns, and it's unclear when Starliner will fly again — with astronauts or just cargo. NASA went into its commercial crew program wanting two competing U.S. companies for taxi service for redundancy's sake, and the agency and stands by that choice.

Москва

В Якутии на молодежном фестивале «МУУС УСТАР» выявили победителей патриотического конкурса «Лента времени»!

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

The Spectrum: State of the State; Columbus business leader

Jared Padalecki Teases 'Supernatural' Reunion With Jensen Ackles & Misha Collins on 'The Boys'

How 3 MILLION dogs are being slaughtered ahead of World Cup with executions & poisoned food… but Fifa is doing nothing

Liverpool emerge as frontrunners to sign Chelsea & Newcastle United transfer target

Ria.city
Реклама
I bought a watermelon in the market weighing 130kg.

but when he cut it, he was very surprised. It was inside






Реклама
I bought a watermelon in the market weighing 130kg.

but when he cut it, he was very surprised. It was inside


Реклама
Recommendations to help you get a great harvest of potatoes

Life hacks to help you get a big potato harvest: Asian farmers share tips

Read also

Israel resumes airstrikes in Gaza

I transformed my council house kitchen with B&Q bargains – it looks so good people thought it was done by professionals

Botin says Santander’s focus is on Americas, less so Europe

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

How 3 MILLION dogs are being slaughtered ahead of World Cup with executions & poisoned food… but Fifa is doing nothing

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

How 3 MILLION dogs are being slaughtered ahead of World Cup with executions & poisoned food… but Fifa is doing nothing



Sports today


Новости тенниса
Даниил Медведев

Медведев не смог выйти в финал «Мастерса», Овечкин приблизился к Гретцки. Главное к утру



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Как избежать травм в тренажерном зале: техника безопасности



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Какие виды спорта наиболее травмоопасны для суставов


Новости России

Game News

We asked two parkour athletes to rate the realism of Assassin's Creed's acrobatics, and a surprising 'crime against parkour' might actually be one of the most realistic things they saw


Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Russian.city

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine


Москва

В Омске завершился международный кинофестиваль «Свидание с Россией. Сибирский характер» имени Михаила Ульянова


Губернаторы России
Клава Кока

«Лучшего финала сезона представить невозможно!» Клава Кока восхитилась финальным выпуском шоу «Конфетка»


это строка мета тайтл - заполненные данные реальные

Женские спортивные сообщества и формирование субкультур

Проект БЦ класса А «Башня Рябов» получил положительное заключение экспертизы

«ЗЭТО» подтвердил статус отечественного производителя электротехнического оборудования


Концерт Олега Митяева в Пскове отменили по техническим причинам

В Петербурге исполнили посвященную Мравинскому симфонию Шостаковича

Кажетта Ахметжанова: домашние растения, которые защищают от злых духов и нечисти

Опубликовать стихи поэта. Опубликовать стихи друга.


Даниил Медведев проиграл в полуфинале турнира Masters в Индиан-Уэллсе

Супердевочка: Андреева сокрушила Соболенко в финале турнира в Индиан-Уэллсе и выиграла второй «тысячник» подряд

«Удержаться сложнее!»: Кафельников об успехе Андреевой на турнире серии WTA-1000

Первая ракетка Казахстана улучшил положение в мировом рейтинге ATP


Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this


Женские спортивные сообщества и формирование субкультур

Подмосковные росгвардейцы задержали подозреваемого в мошенничестве на территории магазина

Как избежать травм в тренажерном зале: техника безопасности

ТСД SAOTRON RT41 GUN: практичный, производительный, надёжный


«Лучшего финала сезона представить невозможно!» Клава Кока восхитилась финальным выпуском шоу «Конфетка»

Суд в Москве ограничил штраф Google в рамках спора с российскими каналами

Выставка живописи Игоря Леонтьева «Метафизика Пскова» откроется 21 марта

Сергей Собянин: Участок соединит две магистрали


Новые саундбары Xiaomi уже в продаже

Синоптик Шувалов рассказал, что снег в Москве останется до пятницы

Зарплату от 40 до 230 тыс. руб. предлагают ставропольским геодезистам

Level Group – надежный застройщик с выгодными предложениями


Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this


Путин в России и мире
Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine



Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine



Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Персональные новости Russian.city
Игорь Бутман

«Гости из Кубы и США»: Бутман о «Триумфе джаза» и отмене музыкантов «из-за России»



News Every Day

Dina Pugliese and Tim Bolen Are Hosting Breakfast Television




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости