On June 5 of 2024, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams (otherwise known as Crew 9) launched into space to undertake a test flight for the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
Little did they know, what was supposed to be an eight day mission would turn into a nine month long stay in space.
The initial plan was for them to stay in space for eight to ten days. The astronauts were supposed to test all the controls and engines of the spacecraft, making sure it works for the next flight.
However, after a couple days, they quickly noticed that something was off.
Some of the control panels weren’t working as they should, as well as some thruster failures and helium leaks.
At the time, NASA wasn’t quite sure what to do since even the slightest mistake could put the astronauts’ lives in jeopardy.
In the end, NASA ruled out the option of bringing the crew down on the Boeing Spacecraft. If the rocket hit the wrong part of the atmosphere on reentry, it had a very high chance of exploding.
NASA decided it would be best to send a new ship up to space for the astronauts to stay and work on instead.
Instead of coming back down to Earth, they would stay in space to complete an upcoming mission for a different crew.
The astronauts finally descended after their nine month long trip on March 18, 2025, spending a total of 286 days in space.
After they landed, Williams and Willmore were bombarded with journalists and bloggers asking for their thoughts and opinions on the trip.
They both were happy to see their family, friends, and pets after being away for such a long time. Videos of them reuniting can be found on many platforms.
Despite the amazing trip, spending nine months in space can do great harm to one’s body. Side effects can include muscle and bone loss, and vision changes.
It also has a huge effect on your sleep. Williams shared, “Gravity makes you tired, very tired. It was really nice to lie down in bed. We hadn’t done that in months.”
They also have to adjust back to the Earth’s gravity. Since gravity in space is not as dense as on Earth, the bones and muscles were very weak.
An interview with the astronauts revealed all their thoughts about the trip.
Astronaut Butch Willmore said, “Yeah, I’ll admit. I was terrified when the ship started malfunctioning. I thought I was down to days. But you can’t do this business without trust. You have to have the ultimate trust. You just have to have that spark inside you that everything will work out. And guess what… it did.”
But despite the troubles, both astronauts were proud to be on that spacecraft.
Suni Williams said, “I never felt abandoned or stuck, and I am honored to be here and part of the team doing world class science.”
Both the astronauts had fun and generally enjoyed the trip. “It’s really a once in a lifetime chance that you can go to space, and escape from the realities of our world,” said Williams.