In what can only be described as the world’s longest unplanned work trip, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been living it up on the International Space Station (ISS) since early June. Why the extended stay? Well, let’s just say Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft decided to pull a fast one and break down like an old car on the side of the road.
Initially, this mission was supposed to be a quick eight-day jaunt. You know, pop up to space, do some science, grab a selfie with the Earth in the background, and head home in time for dinner. But fast forward two months, and Williams, 58, and Wilmore, 60, are still floating around up there, probably running out of new places to stash their space socks.
NASA, ever the reliable travel agent, finally chimed in on Aug. 14 with an update. According to Joe Acaba, the head honcho at NASA’s Astronaut Office in Houston, our stranded spacefarers are taking it all in stride. “It’s part of the job,” he shrugged, probably while sipping coffee from a “World’s Best Boss” mug. “Astronauts know that launch dates can be as reliable as a cat’s mood, and mission durations? Ha! That’s just a fun guessing game.”
To add a twist to this cosmic comedy, NASA hasn’t even decided whether to bring Williams and Wilmore home or turn them into long-term ISS residents. Apparently, they’re still weighing the pros and cons, like deciding whether to drive a jalopy or hitch a ride with SpaceX’s slick Dragon capsule. But wait, there’s more! If they do switch to SpaceX, it’s a game of musical chairs up there. Wilmore and Williams could end up booting two other astronauts from their scheduled ride and staying on the ISS until February 2025. Talk about an extended layover.
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s Space Operations guru, casually mentioned they’re taking their sweet time to figure this out. “We’ve got time before bringing Starliner home, so why not use it wisely?” he mused, probably while doodling spaceship designs in his notebook.
Meanwhile, Boeing, the star of this intergalactic drama, was notably absent from the latest press conference. But don’t worry, they’ve assured everyone they’re on top of things. Leaks? No big deal. Failed thrusters? Just a minor hiccup. “We believe in Starliner,” they said, with the confidence of someone who just found duct tape in the garage. “But if NASA wants to change plans, we’ll just reconfigure Starliner to come back empty—no biggie.”
So, for now, Williams and Wilmore are kicking back, watching Earth spin below, and waiting for NASA to make up its mind. Whether they’ll ride back in Starliner or switch to SpaceX, one thing’s for sure: this is one mission they won’t forget anytime soon.