NASA has released a significant update on the fate of stranded astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams.
The duo initially set off last June on what was meant to be a routine eight-day mission aboard Boeing’s new Starliner capsule. However, ongoing technical issues have left them unexpectedly stranded in space, turning their mission into an extended, and highly publicized, stay.
NASA is now considering an earlier return for stranded astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams, who have spent nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
While an extended stay in space may seem like an adventure, prolonged weightlessness can have significant health effects. In light of ongoing technical issues, NASA is reportedly planning to accelerate the astronauts’ return by replacing their designated spacecraft.
Originally, the Crew-10 mission was set to rotate astronauts and bring them home in early April, but delays with SpaceX’s C213 Dragon, due to battery concerns, prompted a change in plans. Instead, NASA will now reuse SpaceX’s Endurance ship, aiming to bring Butch and Suni back to Earth on March 19, ending their mission at 286 days.
The decision comes amid rising political interest, with newly re-elected President Donald Trump and Elon Musk publicly weighing in on the astronauts’ rescue.
Concerns about the health of stranded astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams are growing, especially after Suni admitted she’s starting to forget how to walk.
During a Q&A with students at her old high school, she shared the surprising effects of prolonged weightlessness:
“I’ve been up here long enough right now that I’ve been trying to remember what it’s like to walk,” she said (via CBS).
She added, “I haven’t walked. I haven’t sat down. I haven’t laid down. You don’t have to. You can just close your eyes and float where you are right here.”
With NASA aiming for a March 19 return, fingers are crossed that Butch and Suni will be back on Earth soon.
