Sunita Williams‘s husband Michael shared that space is her “happy place,” despite the current situation caused by issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
Michael told The Wall Street Journal that ‘Space was her happy place, even if she had to be there indefinitely.’
Similarly, Butch Wilmore‘s family remains unperturbed by his extended time in space.As reported by the New York Post, Wilmore’s wife Deanna said, “You know, we probably don’t expect him until February, February or March.”The Starliner spacecraft encountered a helium leak in its service module, a critical component for its operations, resulting in the astronauts’ prolonged stay. Williams and Wilmore are currently on the ISS as part of Boeing’s Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT).
Originally scheduled to return on June 14, 2024, their mission has been extended due to the technical issues with the Starliner. The spacecraft has been undergoing crucial testing and evaluations since docking at the ISS on June 6 to ensure a safe return.

Nasa has indicated that the mission could last up to eight months, with a potential return in February. If the Starliner remains unsafe for the astronauts’ return, Nasa has said that those aboard the ISS may need to utilize SpaceX‘s Crew Dragon for their journey back to Earth in February 2025.
SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, is currently planning to launch their Crew-9 mission on September 24 with only two astronauts instead of the usual four. If implemented, this plan would involve the Crew Dragon capsule returning to Earth in February with Wilmore and Williams from the Starliner crew. This situation poses a significant setback for Boeing, a prominent aerospace company.