NASA Astronauts Wilmore and Williams Return After Extended 10-Month Mission
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams had their mission extended to almost 10 months, ultimately returning to Earth on March 18, 2025, due to launch delays and technical issues.
Published on April 9, 2025
NASA’s astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who launched on June 5, 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule, faced multiple delays that extended their International Space Station mission from a planned short stay to an almost 10-month assignment. The complications arose from technical issues with the Starliner and delays in launching their replacement crew, which was originally scheduled to arrive in February 2025.
The situation necessitated overlapping crew operations for a smoother transition. Ultimately, the extended mission concluded when the astronauts returned to Earth on March 18, 2025, via a SpaceX Dragon capsule after completing a 286-day mission. This return underscores the challenges in coordinating crew rotations and spacecraft readiness in today’s evolving spaceflight operations.