NASA

Can you imagine going nine months without seeing your loved ones? Well, for astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams this was a reality. Wilmore and Williams were a part of the first official crew to fly the Boeing Starliner capsule, originally launched on June 5, 2024. This was meant to be a ten-day-long mission to test the capsule. However, due to technical issues with the Starliner, such as helium leaks and propulsion problems, their return was delayed, which led to an extended stay on the Boeing Starliner capsule for nine months. On March 18, 2025, the astronauts re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere. They splashed down using parachutes and were greeted by dolphins as they landed safely in the Gulf of Mexico.

Even though everyone is safe, that shouldn’t overlook the mental and physical toll taken on the astronauts and their families. Having to abruptly adjust to a new way of life for nine months is not something you can easily prepare for. They missed important holidays like Christmas and birthdays as they spent their nine months in space. However, they persevered and created a new “space family” to unite and lean on throughout this time. Williams even shared a video on Twitter of her reuniting with her two dogs, Roter and Gunner. 

Even though the narrative portrays this extended space odyssey as being stuck, stranded, and neglected, Wilmore and Williams spoke at a press conference at the Johnson Space Center on March 31 in Houston to set the record straight. They believe that all their preparation has trained them for this exact moment. This has also taken a political turn as they had to shut down false claims made by President Trump and Elon Musk that these astronauts were abandoned by the Biden administration. However, Williams and Wilmore state that they would fly the Boeing Starliner again in a heartbeat. They are dedicated to learning from this experience and making it even better next time. 

Trying to return to a “normal” life while having to face rumors and allegations about the job that they love makes you think about how important it is to have a foundation and support system, whether it be down on Earth or up in space.