An unexpected extended stay at the International Space Station will come to an end March 18, 2025 — weather and technology permitting. If all goes as planned, NASA astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore will return to Earth, unintentionally joining the top 10 list of longest time for U.S. astronauts spent in space on a single mission.
A Longer Stay on the ISS
When Suni and Butch rode Boeing’s first-ever crewed Starliner to the ISS in June 2024, they were only expected to stay there eight days. However, the Starliner experienced issues with its propulsion and parachute systems during the trip to the ISS.
