NASA Astronauts Stranded Nine Months on ISS After Starliner Thruster Failure

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore embarked on an eight-day test flight aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule in June 2024, but technical issues with the spacecraft's thrusters extended their mission to nearly nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The malfunctioning thrusters initially prevented the capsule from docking autonomously, raising serious concerns about whether the astronauts would be able to return safely to Earth. Both astronauts privately grappled with the possibility that they might never see their families again, though they did not verbalize these fears, instead relying on their training to focus on problem-solving and maintaining morale. Throughout their extended stay, Williams and Wilmore supported each other through the challenges, knowing that NASA was fully committed to their safe return. Their ordeal concluded in March 2025 when a SpaceX Dragon capsule successfully brought them back to Earth. Despite the harrowing experience, both astronauts have expressed resilience and a continued desire to return to space missions.