Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally back home after spending nine months in space. They launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule on June 5, 2024, for a mission initially expected to last just over a week. However, due to persistent technical issues that plagued the spacecraft that carried them to space, their stay extended to an unexpected 286 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Wilmore, 62, and Williams, 59, are both veteran NASA astronauts and retired U.S. Navy test pilots. Williams became an astronaut in 1998 and Wilmore in 2000. They were the first crew aboard what was meant to be a quick test flight for the Starliner. Unfortunately, the vessel was plagued with problems that almost prevented it from making it to the ISS. The technical issue included a helium leak and thruster malfunctions.
In September, NASA decided to bring the Boeing capsule back to Earth without any crew on board, leaving Wilmore and Williams stranded on the space station as they waited for a safe ride home.
What Happened In August
In August, NASA decided to bring them back on a SpaceX capsule which ultimately resulted in launching the Dragon-9 vessel in September. But the vessel remained docked at the ISS while waiting for a relief crew. The relief mission faced multiple delays. The scheduled flight, originally set for February, was postponed due to battery maintenance on the SpaceX capsule. Another launch attempt last Wednesday was further delayed due to a hydraulics issue with a new SpaceX capsule.
When Trump Decide To Bring Them Back
According to a Time report, At the end of January, former President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk accused the Biden administration of delaying the astronauts’ return—a claim that former space station commander Andreas Mogensen flatly dismissed as “a lie.”
Musk took to X, asserting that SpaceX had offered to bring Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore home months earlier but was denied for “political reasons.” However, former NASA officials refuted this, stating that no such offer was ever made to the agency. Former NASA Administrator Bill Nelson also clarified that the decision to wait until February was based purely on safety protocols, not politics.
Will Sunita Williams And Butch Wilmore Hold The Record?
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have spent an impressive 286 consecutive days in space. However, when it comes to the longest time spent aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the duo ranks only fifth. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio holds the record for the longest single spaceflight at 371 days, followed closely by Mark Vande Hei and Scott Kelly. Meanwhile, Peggy Whitson holds the record for the most cumulative days spent in space across multiple missions, with a total of 675 days- This is as per NASA data. However, When it comes to NASA Astronaut Cumulative Days in Space Record Holders, the Indian origin Sunita Williams stands second with 608 days in ISS.
NASA Astronaut Single Spaceflight Record Holders
| NASA Astronaut | Number of Days |
| Frank Rubio | 371 |
| Mark Vande Hei | 355 |
| Scott Kelly | 340 |
| Christina Koch | 328 |
| Peggy Whitson | 289 |
| Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore | 286 |
| Jeanette Epps, Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt | 235 |
(Data From NASA)
NASA Astronaut Cumulative Days in Space Record Holders
| NASA Astronaut | Number of Days |
| Peggy Whitson | 675 |
| Sunita Williams | 608 |
| Jeff Williams | 534 |
| Mark Vande Hei | 523 |
| Scott Kelly | 520 |
| Mike Barratt | 447 |
| Shane Kimbrough | 388 |
(Data From NASA)
