NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore addressed concerns about Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in their first press conference since returning to Earth. Despite facing problems that stranded them on the International Space Station (ISS), both expressed confidence in Starliner’s future.
When asked if he would fly on Starliner again, Wilmore responded:
“Yes, because we’re going to rectify all the issues that we encountered. We’re going to fix them. We’re going to make it work. Boeing is completely committed. NASA is completely committed, and with that, I’d get on in a heartbeat.”
Williams echoed his optimism, highlighting the spacecraft’s potential:
“The spacecraft is really capable. There were a couple of things that need to be fixed … but it is a great spacecraft, and it has a lot of capability that other spacecraft don’t have. To see that thing successful and to be part of that program is an honor.”
Crew-9’s Return and Recovery
The Crew-9 mission, consisting of Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, safely splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on March 18 aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.
NASA astronaut Nick Hague emphasized the mission’s balance between safety and scientific progress:
“Crew-9 mission is unique, like every space flight mission tends to be… it highlights, to me, safety and the importance of the mission and the balance of those two.”
Following their return, Wilmore and Williams began physical therapy at Johnson Space Center to readjust to Earth’s gravity. Williams even shared that she had already completed a 3-mile run on Sunday, indicating a strong recovery.
Trump Takes Credit for Astronaut Rescue
The White House credited President Donald Trump for prioritizing the astronauts’ return, highlighting his role in their “rescue.”
In a post on X, the White House stated:
“PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months. Today, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, thanks to Elon Musk, SpaceX, and NASA!”
Earlier, Trump accused former President Joe Biden of “abandoning” the astronauts and claimed that he had personally authorized Elon Musk to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth.
While NASA continues its investigation into Starliner’s technical issues, the mission’s success underscores SpaceX’s role in ensuring safe astronaut transportation.