How does life go on far from Earth, away from family, and with many uncertainties? Many people fear such a situation, but for astronauts Sunita "Sunny" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore, it became a reality.
They traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) for what was supposed to be an 8-day mission. However, due to a serious problem with their spacecraft, they had to stay for 9 months before returning to Earth.
Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore Return Home Safely
After months in space, their journey ended when SpaceX’s Dragon capsule landed safely in the ocean near Florida. NASA and SpaceX welcomed them back, saying, "Welcome home!"
Commander Nick Hague, another astronaut on board, said everyone in the capsule was smiling joyfully after landing.
Why Did They Stay So Long?
Sunita and Barry left Earth on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, soon after arriving at the ISS, NASA discovered a helium leak and problems with the spacecraft’s thrusters. This meant it was too risky for them to return right away.
NASA tried multiple times to bring them back, but each attempt failed. In the end, the Starliner had to return to Earth empty in August 2024, leaving Sunita and Barry stuck in space.
NASA finally decided that they would have to stay for at least five more months and would only return in 2025.
Life in Space
Staying in space for so long was not easy. Most astronauts stay for only 6 months, but Sunita and Barry had to adapt to 9 months in zero gravity.
Luckily, they had everything they needed: food, water, oxygen, and clothes were sent from Earth. They also talked to family and kept in touch with NASA. During their time at the ISS, they worked on important space experiments.
Sunita also completed two spacewalks and was even made commander of the ISS.
The Challenge of Returning
Some astronauts have stayed in space longer than Sunita and Barry. The record for the longest time spent in space is 433 days, set in the 1990s. Frank Rubio holds the U.S. record, staying 371 days in space in 2023.
Sunita and Barry, now 69 and 62 years old, returned home with NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Russian astronaut Alexander Gorbunov.
What Happens Next?
After months without gravity, their bodies have changed. Their bones are weaker, and their muscles need time to recover. They will spend the next few months under medical care to regain their strength.
Their experience has taught NASA valuable lessons about long space missions. Their journey will help scientists prepare for future space travel—maybe even missions to Mars!
