NASA Starliner Astronauts Readjust to Earth, Return to Boeing Duties

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NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore is assisted out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft aboard the recovery ship MEGAN after landing with fellow astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, on March 18, 2025.

WASHINGTON: After spending nine months in space, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are easing back into life on Earth, enjoying walks with their dogs and quality time with family. They are also resuming their work with Boeing to evaluate the capsule that had previously left them stranded at the International Space Station (ISS).

“It feels amazing to be back. I went for a run — albeit at a slow pace,” Williams shared in a Monday interview in Houston. “It’s just wonderful to feel the air, even if it is humid, rushing past you, and to see people on the track. It’s simply nice to be home.”

Wilmore and Williams, who were the first crew to fly aboard Boeing’s problematic Starliner spacecraft last summer, underwent standard medical evaluations by NASA’s astronaut office for several days following their return to Earth on a SpaceX capsule in March, before finally reuniting with their families.

This Wednesday, the astronauts plan to meet with Boeing executives to discuss the Starliner, with Wilmore noting their continuing value as advisers in the craft’s development.

Support teams surround a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. — Support teams surround a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, on March 18, 2025.

“We had a very unique viewpoint from inside the spacecraft — nobody else has had that experience,” Williams stated. She emphasized that her discussions with Wilmore and Boeing would focus on “where we currently stand and where we think we need to head” regarding the Starliner’s evolution.

A malfunction in the Starliner’s propulsion system had previously forced NASA to return the capsule without its crew last year, leading to the integration of both astronauts into the ISS rotation schedule. What was intended to be an eight-day test flight unexpectedly morphed into a nine-month contingency operation, drawing global attention to the safety of Wilmore and Williams.

NASA and Boeing are set to conduct ground tests on the Starliner’s propulsion system this summer, with plans for a potential uncrewed test flight in early 2026 before crewed missions resume.

This would represent Boeing’s third uncrewed test amid a challenging development process that has resulted in over $2 billion in costs since 2016.

NASA astronaut Suni Williams is assisted out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft aboard the recovery ship MEGAN after landing. — NASA astronaut Suni Williams is assisted out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft aboard the recovery ship MEGAN after landing with fellow astronauts Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, on March 18, 2025.

“I believe that testing the new or replaced components on the spacecraft is essential before proceeding,” Williams remarked on the prospect of an uncrewed mission for Starliner. “It seems like a wise decision to me.”

The two experienced NASA astronauts, both former U.S. Navy test pilots, were designated as the test crew for Starliner around 2022. NASA has consistently mentioned the need for a second U.S. spacecraft to transport astronauts into space, as SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has remained the only operational option since 2020.

The ISS, a vast science laboratory orbiting the Earth, has hosted international crews continuously for over 25 years, enabling significant research into how space travel can impact the human body in numerous ways, from muscle loss to potential vision issues.