After spending nine months in space, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are adjusting to life back on Earth. The pair, who recently returned from the International Space Station (ISS), are enjoying simple pleasures like dog walks and family time. They’re also resuming work with Boeing (NYSE: BA) to address issues with the Starliner spacecraft that initially stranded them in space.
“It’s great getting back. I went for a run – although very slow,” Williams said during an interview in Houston on Monday. “It felt good to feel air, even though it was humid, and see people on the track. It’s really nice. It’s home.”
Wilmore and Williams, the first astronauts to ride Boeing’s troubled Starliner last summer, spent several days undergoing routine medical checks by NASA’s astronaut office following their return to Earth in a SpaceX capsule in March. They were cleared to reunite with their families soon after.
On Wednesday, the astronauts will meet with Boeing executives to discuss the future of Starliner. Wilmore explained that they will offer valuable insights based on their first-hand experience with the spacecraft.
“We had a very unique perspective of being in the spacecraft – nobody else had that perspective,” Williams said. “In our talks with Boeing, we’ll be discussing where we stand and where we think we need to go with Starliner’s development.”
The Starliner mission faced significant setbacks last year when propulsion system issues forced NASA to return the capsule without its crew. As a result, the astronauts were placed on a new mission rotation at the ISS. What was meant to be an eight-day test flight turned into a nine-month contingency plan, turning into a global focus on Wilmore and Williams’ safety.
NASA and Boeing plan to conduct a ground test of Starliner’s propulsion system this summer, with hopes of a test flight in early 2026. This flight may be uncrewed, as Boeing works to address the spacecraft’s development challenges. This will mark the third uncrewed test in a program that has already cost Boeing over $2 billion since 2016.
“I think that’s already the plan, as new components will be added or replaced on the spacecraft,” Williams said when asked about the possibility of an uncrewed test mission. “It’s a smart, wise idea.”
Both Wilmore and Williams are former U.S. Navy test pilots and were selected as the test crew for Starliner around 2022. NASA has long stated the need for a second U.S. spacecraft for its astronaut corps, as SpaceX’s Crew Dragon is currently the only available option for crewed space flights.
The ISS, a science laboratory the size of a football field, has hosted continuous international astronaut crews for over 25 years. The research conducted on the space station has provided valuable insights into how life in space affects the human body, from muscle atrophy to potential vision impairment.
Related Topics:
