Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore: the experienced astronauts who got stuck in space and are ready to return to Earth

Astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore are ready to return to Earth after a delay that extended their mission much longer than planned. What was supposed to be an eight-day stint on the International Space Station (ISS) turned into a nearly nine-month odyssey because of technical glitches in Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

Williams and Wilmore departed in June 2024 aboard the Starliner capsule, in what was to be the first manned flight of the experimental vehicle developed by Boeing for NASA. However, after its arrival at the ISS, propellant failures and helium gas leaks arose, forcing NASA to repeatedly postpone its return while the problems were assessed.

Despite the extended stay, the astronauts had the necessary resources and continued to collaborate on the station, participating in scientific research and maintenance tasks, demonstrating their preparedness for the unexpected.

Two space veterans

Suni Williams, 58, is one of NASA's most experienced astronauts. Selected in 1998, she has participated in multiple missions and accumulated 322 days in space before this latest stay in the ISS. With nine spacewalks and a total of 50 hours and 40 minutes outside the station, she is the second longest woman spacewalker.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor's degree in physical sciences and a master's degree in engineering management, she has contributed to the development of new technologies for space missions and played key roles within NASA.

Barry "Butch" Wilmore, 61, is a retired U.S. Navy captain with a distinguished career as a naval force pilot and astronaut. Prior to this mission, he had spent 178 days in space on two previous flights. He was selected by NASA in 2000 and has served as commander of the ISS on one of its previous missions.

An electrical engineer from Tennessee Technological University with a master's degree in Aviation Systems Engineering, he has played a key role in evaluating new aerospace technologies.

Nine months of work in space

Although their mission was unexpectedly extended, Williams and Wilmore maintained an intensive work routine. Their activities included experiments on plant growth in microgravity and the effects of weightlessness on the human body. They also helped with station maintenance, including repairing a damaged lavatory.

Their day started early: Wilmore began work at 04:30 and Williams at 06:30. Both spent at least two hours a day exercising to prevent bone density loss, a common effect of prolonged missions.

The expected return

The delayed return generated uncertainty for their families. "It's been a roller coaster," Williams confessed. However, the wait is nearly over. They are expected to board SpaceX's Dragon capsule along with two other astronauts and land in the ocean very soon, weather permitting.

If all goes as planned, Williams and Wilmoreel will return Tuesday, March 18, marking the close of a mission that tested astronaut resilience and spacecraft reliability in the future of manned exploration.