For the first time, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, NASA astronauts who became known worldwide for being “arrested” for nine months in space, admitted that they were not afraid to never return to Earth.
The two traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Starliner capsule, made by Boeing, on a test flight that should only last eight days. However, a series of leaks and a failure in the drivers of the boat in the same way that the orbital laboratory approached, the plans changed.
Recall the saga of “arrested” astronauts in space:
- The Manned Starliner flight test (or CFT in the English acronym) was published on June 5, 2024, at the top of an Atlas V rocket of United Launch Alliance (ULA), from the Canaveral Space Station in Florida;
- This happened after a series of postponement;
- The last suspension was due to a Heli leak in the capsule;
- The problem was not so serious and the spacecraft took place towards ISS;
- On the way, more Heli leaks were identified;
- The coupling also had a problem: one anomaly caused five of the 28 propellants of the module not to function, delaying the anchor in more than an hour;
- In August, NASA announced that Williams and Wilmore would return home to the Spacex spacecraft dragon, along with the CREW-9 mission crew (which was launched with only two members precisely for this purpose);
- Already the Boeing Starliner capsule was sent back to Earth, for security reasons, in September.
- The Dragon capsule with Astronauts safely landed in March of this year.
During the 286 days and 7 hours of the orbit, the two became news worldwide, with the headlines who said they were “stuck” at the space station. Although the Starliner capsule was considered too risky for the return, there were ships coupled to ISS that could be used as “lifeboats” in an emergency situation.
In the end, Starliner was finally tested without crew and returned to Earth in September 2024, while Williams and Wilmore were still experiencing space until they were rescued on March 18, 2025.
Although they never spoke out loud of the worst stages, they are now supported. “The possibility of never seeing the Earth definitely went through our mind,” Wilmore said News of the BBC.
However, they could not publicly manifest their fears because they were formed to continue solving problems. “You read your mind and you know where we go with all the failures,” said Williams. “At the same time, do we think, what do we have? What can we do?”
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The situation still became a political discussion. President Donald Trump even accused former President Joe Biden of “abandoned” astronauts in space. Wilmore said he preferred to ignore the controversy. “We understand that space flight is difficult, and a spatial flight with humans, even more.”
Even with the missed mission, the two guarantee that they remain healthy and well prepared for the return. To prevent muscle loss, common in an environment without gravity, they did exercise every day. “I got stronger than ever in my life,” Wilmore said.
Williams recalled that years earlier, a complete marathon in the space, stuck to a rolling ribbon. He commented that the body feels the difference when gravity acts again: “Putting the world’s weight again is a bit painful.”
Back on Earth, the two have collaborated with NASA and Boeing to analyze Starliner’s problems and make it more secure. They claim to be sure that the boat will be used again. And ensure that they would fly again. “It’s a very capable spacecraft,” said Williams. “It has unique functions and is excellent for future astronauts.”
