The longest eight days of Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams’ lives turned into a journey lasting over nine months. On June 5, 2024, these two NASA astronauts embarked on Boeing’s inaugural Starliner spacecraft mission, aiming for a brief test flight to the International Space Station (ISS) and a swift return home. Williams, a seasoned astronaut with 322 days of space experience, was enthusiastic about this short mission, hoping to implement lessons learned for future Starliner missions.
However, unforeseen thruster malfunctions and helium leaks on Starliner rendered the spacecraft unfit for their return trip. Consequently, the astronauts spent months aboard the ISS, awaiting the arrival of a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for their journey back to Earth. Finally, on March 16, the spacecraft docked, and on March 18, after 278 days past their initial departure date, Wilmore and Williams began their descent to Earth.
The transition from short-term visitors to long-term residents on the ISS posed emotional challenges for the astronauts. Now, as they prepare to readjust to life on Earth after an extended absence from home comforts and gravity, they reflect on the unique experiences of adapting to extraterrestrial living.
Throughout history, astronauts have encountered peculiar challenges transitioning between life in space and on Earth. From Frank Borman and Jim Lovell’s gravity-defying antics in 1965 to Dave Scott’s surreal realization post-moon landing in 1971, these experiences highlight the profound impact of space travel on human perception and behavior.
As Wilmore and Williams gear up for their return to Earth, they acknowledge the mental and physical preparation required for their space journey, underscoring the complex interplay between human resilience and the vast unknown of outer space.
It was the mental aspect of saying farewell to all earthly connections for half a year or more that they missed out on while preparing for just an eight-day mission. This reality comes with its own set of challenges. In 2015, TIME visited Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to document astronaut Scott Kelly’s near 12-month stay aboard the ISS in the series “A Year in Space.” Just two days before Kelly’s launch from Baikonur, TIME interviewed astronaut Jeffrey Williams, a part of the backup crew. Williams admitted that if Kelly were unable to go at the last minute, it would be difficult for him to mentally adjust since nothing could replace the full preparation of leaving Earth for a year.
Retired astronaut Mike Massimino, who has been on two shuttle missions, believes that missing their families was likely the toughest mental challenge for Wilmore and Williams. Despite their love for their jobs and gratitude for the opportunity, the emotional strain of being away from home for an extended period is significant.
However, Wilmore and Williams seemed to adapt quickly to life on the ISS, as seen in NASA live streams of them working inside the station and during spacewalks. They embraced the experience, even though they were prepared for a shorter stay. The mental aspect of space travel, as experienced by Apollo 15 Commander Scott, is crucial. The return to Earth after months in space presents its own set of challenges, particularly adjusting to gravity.
It remains uncertain whether Wilmore or Williams will fly again or if their ISS stay will be their final space mission. Astronaut Peggy Whitson holds the U.S. record for the most cumulative days in space, followed by Williams and Wilmore with impressive totals. Only time will tell if they decide to venture off the Earth once more.
When they complete their unusual mission, as described by Ivins, they will have stood out. “Suni and Butch embraced the sudden mission extension with grace and humor,” she explains. “Their ability to be flexible, adaptable, and optimistically versatile in blending in with the on-board crew is precisely what one expects from a seasoned astronaut, and it fills me with pride to call them my friends.” Please send your messages to Jeffrey Kluger at jeffrey.kluger@time.com.
