Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are astronauts. They blasted into space on June 5. They were flying in NASA’s new Starliner spacecraft.
A rocket launches the Starliner into space from Florida on June 5.
JOEL KOWSKY—NASA/GETTY IMAGES
The mission was supposed to last eight days. But the Starliner faced problems. It arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) safely. But NASA has decided it is not safe to bring the astronauts back.
Williams and Wilmore have been at the ISS for months. They will stay until there is a safe way home.
Backup Plan
NASA has a backup plan. More astronauts will soon travel to the ISS. Williams and Wilmore will return with them. That will be in February 2025.
Williams spoke to reporters in July. She said she and Wilmore were having a “great time.”
Wilmore and Williams pause for a picture between the Starliner and the ISS on June 13.
NASA
But there are challenges. For one thing, it is crowded up there. Williams and Wilmore are sharing the ISS with seven other astronauts. And they did not pack enough clothes. But in August, a supply vehicle arrived. It brought fresh food and clothes for the Starliner crew.
More from Science
Share a Link
- Click the icon above to copy the url link to your clipboard.
- Paste the link into the location in which you share assignments with students. Examples might include, but are not limited to Canvas, Schoology and Edmodo.
Google Classroom
- Click on the icon above to share the article with a class in your Google Classroom.
- Choose an action. Options might include creating an assignment or asking a question.
