Suni Williams, 58, of Needham, Massachusetts, is one of two veteran NASA astronauts who have been stuck on the International Space Station since early June. Now the team has learned they will have to wait until next year for a flight home with SpaceX.
The two astronauts – Wiliams and Butch Wilmore – launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule in June 2024 for a week-long stay at the space station. But another setback for Boeing: A series of annoying engine failures and helium leaks in their capsule marred their trip to the space station, and they ended up in a holding pattern while engineers conducted tests and debated what to do for the return trip.
Although this is the first flight of the Boeing Starliner with a crew on board, the retired Navy captains had already spent months aboard the space station years ago and participated in the test flight after the original crew dropped out due to increasing delays.
Wilmore, 61, is a former fighter pilot from Mount Juliet, Tennessee.
Astronaut Sunita Williams visited elementary school students in Needham on Tuesday, answering their questions and hoping to inspire them to pursue big dreams like she did.
Before their June 5 launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida, they said their families had experienced the uncertainty and stress of their careers decades ago. During their only orbital press conference last month, they said they had confidence in the engine tests being conducted. They had no complaints, they added, and they enjoyed helping with work on the space station.
In June, students at Sunita L. Williams Elementary School in Needham cheered and jumped in the air as they watched Williams take off on a television in their classroom and sang a special song for her.
Williams also checked in with the school during his stay in space.
Williams attended Needham Public Schools and has a very close relationship with the teachers and students at the elementary school named after her.
Massachusetts resident Kate Tedoldi, who went to high school with Williams, told NBC 10 Boston she was praying for her safe return.
“I’m scared for her, but I know she’s very dedicated and I’m sure she knows how to handle situations like this,” Tedoldi said.
According to experts, missions lasting up to a year are quite common.
The SpaceX capsule currently parked at the space station is reserved for the four residents who have been there since March. They will return in late September, their stay extended by a month by the Starliner dilemma. NASA said it would be too dangerous to squeeze two more into the capsule except in an emergency.
Wilmore and Williams will have to wait for SpaceX’s next taxi flight, which is scheduled to launch at the end of September with two astronauts instead of the usual four for a six-month stay. NASA has taken two astronauts away to make room for Wilmore and Williams on the return flight at the end of February.
