Latest news with #Starliner
Mint
8 hours ago
- Science
- Mint
NASA's Sunita Williams, Butch recall Starliner's journey to space: 'We didn't know if we would be able to make it back'
During their space journey last year, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore wondered whether they would have been able to 'make it back' home if their Starliner vehicle had not docked with the International Space Station (ISS). Starliner's historic first test mission with NASA astronauts had issues docking with the ISS on June 6 after five thrusters (out of 28) in its reaction control system misbehaved. Two months after safely landing on Earth, Butch Wilmore recalled the horror he and Sunita Williams faced when their Boeing Starliner capsule was detected with faults mid-journey. Wilmore told BBC News that docking of the spacecraft with the space station was 'imperative'. But when the spacecraft endured a series of thruster failures and helium leaks, the astronauts were unable to fly forward to dock. "If we weren't able to dock, would we be able to make it back? We didn't know," Wilmore said. Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore had launched into space on June 5, riding on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. They reached the ISS on June 6. They were supposed to spend eight days in space, but they ended up staying for around nine months due to the faults in the Starliner. The NASA had determined it was too much of a risk to put the two NASA astronauts back on board Starliner, and changed its ISS manifest to bring the astronauts home in another way. The two NASA astronauts returned safely to Earth in March this year, on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Since their return, the duo have been working with the NASA and Boeing to fix problems with the malfunctioning spacecraft that took them into space last summer, BBC reported. "We are very positively hopeful that there will be opportunities to fly the Boeing Starliner in the future," Wilmore said. Both astronauts said they would personally fly in the craft again - once those technical issues were resolved. "It's a very capable spacecraft," Sunita Williams was quoted as saying. She added, "It has unique capabilities compared to other spacecraft that are out there that are really great for future astronauts to fly."
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Stranded astronauts didn't know if they would 'be able to make it back'
When astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore approached the International Space Station (ISS) last year with failing thrusters on their Boeing Starliner capsule, they were unable to fly forward to dock. And if they couldn't dock, they didn't know if they could make it back home again. "Docking was imperative," Mr Wilmore told BBC News, two months after he and Ms Williams finally made a successful return to Earth. "If we weren't able to dock, would we be able to make it back? We didn't know." The astronauts had been travelling on a test flight that was meant to last eight days. Instead, they ended up staying in space for nearly 10 months. The first challenge was to dock safely and successfully at the ISS, which they managed to do within several minutes after Mission Control on the ground helped them restart the craft's thrusters. Mr Wilmore said that the possibility they might never see Earth again "definitely went through our minds". But both astronauts said they didn't communicate the worst-case scenarios out loud in those moments, because they were trained to move on with solving problems. "You sort of read each other's mind and know where we're going with all the failures," Ms Williams told the BBC. "These were not expected," she admitted. But thoughts quickly turned to solutions: "At the same time, you know, we're like, what do we have? What can we do?" Astronauts Butch and Suni finally back on Earth How did the Nasa pair fill nine months in space? The pair's saga began in June 2024. They were taking part in the first crewed test flight of the Starliner spacecraft, which was developed by aerospace company Boeing. But after a number of technical problems during their flight, the option of Starliner carrying the astronauts home as planned was deemed to be a risk not worth taking - given that the pair could instead be brought back by another company, SpaceX. For that reason, they stayed in space until they hitched a ride back on a SpaceX capsule. For its part, Boeing maintained that its own capsule was safe to use - and was proven right when the craft returned, uncrewed, in September 2024. After months of experiments aboard the space station, Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore eventually returned to Earth on 18 March. During this phase of their mission, the pair were repeatedly described as stranded, implying there was no means for them to get off the ISS. But that was not the case, as the space station always has spacecraft attached to it - which could have acted in an emergency as a lifeboat to carry the astronauts back to Earth. Nonetheless, the pair's stay was longer than expected - though the Nasa pair embraced this. "We knew nobody was going to just let us down... we knew everybody had our back and was looking out for us," Ms Williams said. While in limbo, the pair even found themselves in the middle of a political row, after US President Donald Trump blamed his predecessor Joe Biden for abandoning them in space. But the astronauts said they ignored the politics and didn't feel abandoned. "We can't speak to that at all," said Mr Wilmore. "We understand space flight is hard, human space flight is even harder." After two months back on the ground, both astronauts say they are feeling fit and well, because the workouts that they undertook while in their zero-gravity environment paid off. Exercising in zero gravity means your body doesn't need much time to recover from the daily squats and deadlifts, Mr Wilmore explained. He said he performed squats and deadlifts "every single day for almost 10 months", meaning that he returned to Earth "literally stronger than I've ever been in my life". Ms Williams agreed - she went running days after landing back on Earth and once ran a full marathon in space strapped to a treadmill - but said it's not always easy to readjust to the weight of the world. "Just getting gravity back on your head and your back and all that kind of stuff is a little bit painful," she said. Since their return, the pair have been working with Nasa and Boeing to fix problems with the malfunctioning spacecraft that took them into space last summer. "We are very positively hopeful that there will be opportunities to fly the Boeing Starliner in the future," Mr Wilmore said. And both astronauts said they would personally fly in the craft again - once those technical issues were resolved. "It's a very capable spacecraft," Ms Williams said. "It has unique capabilities compared to other spacecraft that are out there that are really great for future astronauts to fly." What nine months in space does to the human body Astronauts reveal what life is like on ISS – and how they deal with 'space smell'
Metro
20 hours ago
- Health
- Metro
Major health update on astronauts who were stranded in space for nine months
A pair of NASA astronauts who were stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) last year have completed a gruelling 45-day rehab course to readapt to Earth's atmosphere. Butch Wilmore, 62, and Sunita Williams, 59, lost significants amoutn of muscle mass and bone density after spending nine months on the ISS. This left them suffering extreme fatigue, with Ms Williams struggling to get out of bed for weeks after their return in March. Mr Wilmore, who suffered neck and back issues before the flight, said he immediately started suffering problems after landing back on Earth. 'We're still floating in the capsule in the ocean, and my neck starts hurting, while we still hadn't even been extracted yet,' he told the Reuters news agency. Ms Williams added: 'Gravity stinks for a period, and that period varies for different people, but eventually you get over those neurovestibular balance type of issues. 'It's been a little bit of a whirlwind. Because we also have obligations to all of the folks that we worked with.' The pair spent at least two hours a day working with NASA's strength and reconditioning experts on top of their regular workload. They set off last June for what was supposed to be an eight-day test flight for the Boeing Starliner transport craft. It turned into a nine-month stay on the ISS after their space capsule suffered technical issues and had to return to Earth crewless. The pair did not comment on the ins and outs of their problems, but previous comments by astronauts shed some insight onto what they may have experienced. 'After six months to a year, you gradually lose the thick, calloused skin on your feet,' retired Nasa astronaut, Leroy Chiao, told NewsNation Prime in March. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Once the harder skin peels off, the feet are usually left soft and tender he said, adding: 'You kind of have baby feet when you come back.' Until the feet build up hard skin again, which can take from weeks to months, walking can be uncomfortable and even agonising. Another Nasa veteran, Terry Virtz, said he felt 'really dizzy' on landing and struggled with his sense of balance for some time. An astronaut's heart can shrink slightly because the body needs to make less effort to pump blood around. More Trending Their vision can be affected due to fluid shifting around differently and putting pressure on the optic nerve. Psychological effects such as anxiety and depression can also persist. Mr Wilmore said he backed calls for Nasa to fly the Starliner crewless again before its next manned flight. Nasa officials said results from testing planned over the summer will determine the decision. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Six asteroids 'dangerous to Earth' discovered – but could they really hit us? MORE: Twist in search for mysterious 'Planet Nine' in the dark depths of our solar system MORE: The Milky Way will be most visible until this date in the US – here's how to see it
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
'I Couldn't get up when I wanted to…' Sunita Williams opens up about post-space mission recovery
After spending an extraordinary 286 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have opened up about the physical and emotional challenges of their return to Earth. The mission, which was plagued by delays and a stranded return due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, took a serious toll on both astronauts. Since landing in March 2025, they have been undergoing rigorous physical therapy to recover muscle mass, balance, and mobility. Despite completing their rehabilitation, both report lingering health issues, such as back pain and extreme fatigue, months after their return. NASA astronaut Sunita Williams reveals about physical and emotional toll in recovery Both astronauts underwent intensive daily rehabilitation that included at least two hours of strength and conditioning exercises. These sessions aimed to rebuild lost muscle mass and recondition their bodies to Earth's gravity. Wilmore, aged 62, admitted to still suffering from back pain, despite completing his therapy. Photos taken after landing revealed he had lost significant weight, particularly in the face. Williams, aged 59, experienced extreme fatigue and struggled to stand up for weeks after the mission. The physical strain of spending nearly ten months in microgravity was apparent in their slow recovery and ongoing discomfort. Mental health and isolation challenges in recovery by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo In addition to the physical struggles, Williams and Wilmore spoke about the psychological effects of being isolated in space. Spending 24 hours a day with the same crew in a confined environment led to moments of tension, although they described any interpersonal issues as minor. NASA provided both with mental health support, including regular consultations with doctors and psychiatrists. Despite the mental toll, both astronauts remained composed and focused during their mission. Their ability to cope with such prolonged isolation has highlighted the importance of psychological preparedness for future deep space missions. What were the issues with starliner spacecraft that delayed the astronauts return The duo's extended mission was not planned. Originally meant to return on Boeing's Starliner craft in 2024, they were left stranded due to multiple system malfunctions. NASA and Boeing had to cancel the return and prepare a new spacecraft, delaying their homecoming until March 2025. This led to an unanticipated extension of their stay aboard the ISS. While the astronauts remained confident about their eventual return, the episode cast doubts on the reliability of Starliner, which will now have to undergo uncrewed test missions to regain NASA's confidence. Returning slow to normal life Despite concluding their formal rehabilitation, Williams and Wilmore are only now beginning to feel like themselves again. Williams, known as an early riser, struggled to regain her regular sleep cycle and only recently reported waking up refreshed. The process of re-engaging muscles and regaining normal physiological function took far longer than anticipated. Both astronauts appeared visibly changed in their first public appearance post-rehab, though Williams noted she finally felt like her old self by late May. Their story reflects the harsh and long-lasting impact space travel can have on the human body. Future of commercial crew missions NASA's commercial crew programme, which partners with private companies like Boeing and SpaceX, is now under scrutiny. Boeing's £4.5 billion Starliner project must prove its viability through further unmanned missions before it is cleared to carry astronauts again. While NASA stresses the importance of having multiple spacecraft providers, the failures that led to Williams and Wilmore's extended mission raise significant safety and reliability concerns. The astronauts' experiences underscore the need for robust testing and contingency planning as space agencies aim for longer and more ambitious missions in the future.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
'Gravity stinks': Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore reflect on microgravity's aftermath and recovery challenges
When NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore launched aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule in June 2024, they anticipated an eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). However, due to technical issues with the spacecraft, their stay extended unexpectedly to 256 days, turning their brief assignment into a nine-month odyssey in microgravity . Upon their return to Earth in March 2025, the duo faced significant challenges readjusting to Earth's gravity. In a recent interview, Wilmore humorously remarked, "Gravity stinks for a period," highlighting the immediate discomfort he felt as gravity reasserted itself. He noted that while still floating in the capsule post-splashdown, his neck pain returned—a stark contrast to the relief experienced in weightlessness . "Right now, we're just coming off of the rehab portion of our return," Wilmore, 62, told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday. "Gravity stinks for a period, and that period varies for different people, but eventually you get over those neurovestibular balance type of issues." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Costco Shoppers Say This Wrinkle Cream Is "Actually Worth It" The Skincare Magazine Undo The astronaut duo have spent at least two hours a day with astronaut strength and reconditioning officials within NASA's medical unit while juggling an increasing workload with Boeing's (BA.N), Starliner program, NASA's space station unit in Houston and agency researchers. Williams shared similar sentiments, describing the fatigue and muscle re-engagement required during her recovery. She mentioned struggling with early mornings until her body gradually readapted, eventually returning to her routine of waking up at 4 a.m. . Their rehabilitation involved a 45-day program focusing on mobility, flexibility, and muscle strengthening, guided by NASA's Astronaut Strength, Conditioning, and Rehabilitation specialists. Despite rigorous in-space exercise regimens, both astronauts experienced muscle atrophy and balance issues upon return, underscoring the profound effects of prolonged microgravity on the human body . Beyond physical challenges, research indicates that extended space missions can lead to structural changes in the brain, such as the brain shifting higher in the skull and expansion of fluid-filled cavities, some of which may persist even after returning to Earth . One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
