NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally expected to come home on Tuesday, March 18, after an unexpectedly prolonged mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Why It Matters
Initially scheduled for just over a week, their time in orbit was extended to more than nine months due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
Wilmore and Williams are expected to return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, marking the end of an eventful mission that underscores the challenges and resilience required in human spaceflight.
Who Is Sunita Williams?
Sunita Williams, 59, is a veteran astronaut with NASA and a retired U.S. Navy officer. She was born in Euclid, Ohio, and considers Needham, Massachusetts, her home.
According to a biography from the U.S. Naval Academy, Williams graduated from Needham High School in 1983, obtained a B.S. in Physical Science from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1987 and then got her M.S. in Engineering Management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1995.
AP Photo/John Raoux
She has spent 322 days in space over multiple missions and previously held the record for most spacewalks by a female astronaut, with nine to her name, before Peggy Whitson surpassed her in 2017. Williams joined NASA in 1998 and has played a key role in testing new spaceflight technologies and conducting research aboard the ISS.
Williams practices Hinduism and brought a copy of the Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita to the ISS in December 2006.
How Long Have Sunita Williams And Butch Wilmore Been In Space?
Williams and Wilmore have been in space since June 5, 2024.
Their mission aboard Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner was initially intended to last just eight days. However, they have remained in orbit for more than nine months after their original return spacecraft, Boeing’s Starliner, was deemed unsafe for reentry.
Why Did The Astronauts Get ‘Stuck’ In Space?
The astronauts’ extended stay resulted from multiple technical failures on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. During the initial flight to the ISS, Starliner experienced helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, delaying docking with the space station.
NASA engineers restored four out of five failed thrusters, but further issues led to the decision to return the spacecraft to Earth empty. As a result, Williams and Wilmore were left without a way home until another return plan was arranged.
Chris O’Meara/AP Photo
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, which had been docked at the ISS since September 2024, was chosen as their return vehicle. However, NASA postponed their return until replacement astronauts from Crew-10 could arrive and take over their station duties. With Crew-10 now aboard the ISS, Williams and Wilmore are finally set to return.
What We Know About Sunita Williams’ Husband, Michael J. Williams
Sunita Williams and former police officer Michael J. Williams have been married for over 20 years. It’s unclear how the two met.
Williams’ husband told The Wall Street Journal in August 2024 that space is “her happy place.
The pair do not have any children. However, they have a Jack Russell Terrier named Gorby.
