NASA’s ‘Stranded’ Astronauts Reveal Who is to Blame: NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally returned to Earth after being stranded in space for nine months due to Boeing Starliner setbacks. Originally set for an eight-day mission, the astronauts ended up spending nearly 286 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) following multiple technical failures.
Who is to Blame for the NASA Astronauts’ Stranded Ordeal?
During their first TV appearance since returning, the astronauts admitted that NASA, Boeing, and even themselves were responsible for the mission’s unexpected extension.
Barry Wilmore, the commander of the flight test, told Fox News: “There are things that I did not ask that I should have asked. I didn’t know at the time that I needed to ask them.” He cited “shortcomings in tests and shortcomings in preparations” from both Boeing and NASA as major contributors to the delay.
Sunni Williams: NASA Astronaut Reacts to 9-Month Delay
At a press conference, Suni Williams expressed her surprise at the public interest in their prolonged stay.
“Life goes on up there. We pivoted and became ISS crew members. You get tunnel-visioned into doing your job,” she said. She also admitted they were unaware of how much global attention their situation had garnered.
NASA Astronauts Return to Earth After Months of Uncertainty
Originally, the Boeing Starliner that carried Wilmore and Williams to the ISS was meant to return them home, but persistent technical failures forced NASA to send a SpaceX crew capsule instead.
On March 18, the SpaceX capsule arrived at the ISS, bringing their replacements and marking the beginning of the astronauts’ long-awaited journey home. Hours later, the capsule splashed down off the coast of Florida, where a school of dolphins greeted the returning astronauts.
Astronauts Reveal Their Initial Reaction to Being Stranded
Suni Williams described her initial response when learning they would be stuck in orbit:
“My first thought was: we just gotta pivot. If our spacecraft was going home and we had to stay, I thought, ‘Okay, let’s make the best of it.'”
Wilmore admitted he had concerns about missing his daughter’s high school year but reiterated that astronauts are trained to adapt to unexpected situations.
NASA Astronauts Deny Feeling Abandoned
Despite media speculation, Wilmore rejected claims that they were abandoned.
“Any of those adjectives—stuck, stranded—are very broad. In some respects, yes, we were stuck. But we were prepared, we were trained,” he said.
Boeing Starliner Failure: What Went Wrong?
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft, initially meant to return Wilmore and Williams home, experienced multiple technical failures. NASA ultimately decided to return the Starliner to Earth empty, leaving the astronauts stranded on the ISS for months.
Due to further delays in their replacements’ capsule, an older SpaceX capsule was used instead, pushing their return to March 2025.
A Political Space Rescue: Trump vs. Biden Clash
The situation escalated into a political debate, with Donald Trump claiming that his ally Elon Musk could rescue the astronauts “at any moment,” while President Joe Biden accused Musk of “abandoning” them.
Wilmore and Williams, however, remained diplomatic and focused on their mission, stating that they did not feel abandoned but rather “prepared and committed.”
Home at Last: NASA Astronauts Safely Back on Earth
After a 17-hour descent, the SpaceX capsule carrying Wilmore and Williams splashed down near Tallahassee, Florida. The rescue team was met with an extraordinary sight—dolphins surrounding the capsule as the astronauts were safely retrieved.
As they reentered Earth’s atmosphere, Wilmore rang the ship’s bell as the new ISS crew floated into their new home, marking a bittersweet end to an unexpected nine-month journey in space.
