NASA Stuck Astronauts
Share and Follow

(NEXSTAR) – NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are expected to speak to the media in their first news conference since returning to Earth on March 18.

The event is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET on Monday.

NASA Stuck Astronauts
NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore stand together for a photo before launching on a Boeing Starliner test flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File)

Wilmore and Williams blasted into orbit in June 2024, as part of a test flight of Boeing’s new Starliner crew capsule. They were scheduled to return about eight days later, but problems plagued the mission and NASA ultimately decided to bring the Starliner home, leaving Wilmore and Williams on the International Space Station.

“Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson in August 2024. “A test flight, by nature, is neither safe, nor routine. The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring Boeing’s Starliner home uncrewed is the result of our commitment to safety: our core value and our North Star.”

NASA eventually tasked SpaceX with the astronauts’ return trip, initially scheduling their homecoming for February 2025. Issues with the SpaceX capsule caused further delays into March, when a relief crew was sent to the ISS and Wilmore and Williams ultimately returned to Earth.

Williams (top row, third from left) and Wilmore (bottom row, left) are pictured in an image taken from a NASA video showing the astronauts greeting the crew from a SpaceX capsule that docked at the International Space Station on March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)

Wilmore and Williams’ plight captured the world’s attention, giving new meaning to the phrase “stuck at work” and turning “Butch and Suni” into household names. While other astronauts had logged longer spaceflights over the decades, none had to deal with so much uncertainty or see the length of their mission expand by so much.

Wilmore and Williams ended up spending 286 days in space — 278 days longer than anticipated when they launched. They circled Earth 4,576 times and traveled 121 million miles (195 million kilometers) by the time of splashdown.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Massive Drug Bust in Springfield: Over 1,200 Grams Seized and Firearms Recovered in Shocking Arrest

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A man from Springfield, aged 34, found himself…

Tense Arrest Scene: Man’s Health Crisis Unfolds During ICE Detention of Spouse, Officials Respond Differently

In FITCHBURG, Mass., a dramatic encounter unfolded involving a Massachusetts man, Carlos…

US Government Shutdown Sparks Pay Crisis for Overseas Military Base Workers

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is causing disruptions far beyond…

Senate Commits to Non-Stop Session Until Government Shutdown Resolution Achieved, Announces Thune

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced on Saturday that senators will…

Savannah Mayor Teams Up with Students for Interactive Healthy Cooking Class: Promoting Wellness and Community Engagement

SAVANNAH, Ga. — In an exciting effort to promote healthy living, Mayor…

UPS and FedEx Temporarily Suspend Portions of Cargo Operations Following Fatal Plane Crash in Kentucky

Following a tragic incident earlier this week in Louisville, Kentucky, that resulted…

Lake Land College Enters Temporary Lease Agreement with Deb’s Catering for Effingham Kitchen Use

EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — The Board of Trustees at Lake Land College…

20-Year-Old Motorcyclist Tragically Loses Life in Collision with Jeep in Orange County, Authorities Report

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A tragic incident occurred in Orange County on…