NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams recently spoke publicly for the first time since their unexpectedly extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), reaffirming their trust in Boeing’s Starliner despite the spacecraft’s technical difficulties. Originally intended as a short test flight, their mission stretched to nine months due to issues with the capsule’s thrusters and helium leaks.
During a press conference, Wilmore emphasized that the challenges were a shared responsibility between NASA, Boeing, and the crew, expressing confidence that lessons learned would improve future missions. Williams, meanwhile, reassured that they were never truly stranded and always had a return plan. Both astronauts stated they would fly on Starliner again “in a heartbeat,” showing their faith in the vehicle’s potential.
