Film and TV editor John O’Connor details the extraordinary nine-month tale of two astronauts
On June 5th, 2024, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore embarked on a mission aboard Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft, with an expected duration of eight days. However, what was meant to be a short trip turned into a nine-month ordeal. So, what went wrong?
Their return to Earth was delayed after they encountered issues with the thrusters and helium leaks in the propulsion system leading them to remain in space for a total of 286 days.
“We’re going to rectify all the issues that we encountered, we’re going to fix them, we’re going to make it work.” Wilmore said at a recent news conference. “Boeing’s completely committed , NASA is completely committed, and with that I’d get on in a heartbeat.”
Wilmore continued to discuss the incident, “Blame…I don’t like that term, but certainly there’s responsibility throughout all the programme, and certainly you can start with me. Responsibility with Boeing, yes. Responsibility with NASA, yes, all the way up and down the chain. We all are responsible. We all own this.”
Their delayed return not only posed logistical and health challenges, but it also became increasingly politicized. This was after Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and a current leader within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), alongside President Donald Trump, claimed that SpaceX had offered to bring both Williams and Wilmore back last year, only for the Biden administration to refuse. However, both astronauts and NASA have stated that they were unaware of any such offer from Musk or, at the time, the former President. Since before Armstrong placed the American flag on the moon, space has been politicised. A country’s ability to quite literally reach the stars is not enough if they can’t bring their astronauts home.
When Nick Hague, the Crew-9 commander who helped in Williams’ and Wilmore’s return, was asked to respond to a question in relation to the politicisation of the mission, he said “When we’re up there operating in space you don’t feel the politics, you don’t feel any of that, it's focused strictly on the mission.”
In an interview with Fox News, Williams and Wilmore expressed their gratitude for America’s efforts to bring them home. When Wilmore was asked if he had any words for either Trump or Musk, Wilmore replied: “I respect you, I trust you. You’ve given me no reason not to trust you, either of them.”
Both astronauts returned to Earth on the 18th of March, 278 days later than planned. They splashed back down off the coast of Florida in a SpaceX dragon capsule. Now they are readjusting to life back on Earth.
"It’s truly a miracle to see how the human body can adapt," Williams remarked when discussing her body’s adjustment to life back on Earth. Wilmore went on to explain that during his time on the space station, he had never lifted as many weights or done as many reps as he did on the space station, thanks to NASA’s rigorous exercise regimen.
“It’s great getting back. I went for a run - although very slow,” said Williams. “Just felt great to feel air, even though it was humid air, like blowing past you, and seeing other people on the track, it’s really nice. It’s home.” For Williams, it was a welcome relief to leave behind the sterile atmosphere of the space station and breathe in the fresh air of Houston, Texas. While in space, Williams said what she wanted most was to “hug my husband and hug my dogs.” and that her “father was a vegetarian, so I had a good grilled cheese sandwich when I got home, so that reminded me of him.”