Gone quiet · last update Feb 19, 2026 / NASA
The Starliner astronauts stranded in space for nine months
Overview · reviewed October 28, 2026
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams flew to the International Space Station on Boeing's Starliner capsule in June 2024 for what was meant to be a short test flight, and ended up staying nine months.[1][2] After problems with the capsule, NASA decided it was too risky to bring them home on it; Starliner returned to Earth empty, and the pair came back on a SpaceX capsule in March 2025.[3][4][2] In 2026 NASA's new administrator criticized both Boeing and the agency over the botched flight.[5]
After problems with the capsule, NASA decided it was too risky to bring them home on it; Starliner returned to Earth empty, and the pair came back on a SpaceX capsule in March 2025.[3][4][2] In 2026 NASA's new administrator criticized both Boeing and the agency over the botched flight.[5]
Coverage over time
LeftCenterRight
Weekly counts, outlets and reports (32 weeks with coverage)
| Week of (UTC) | Left | Center | Right | Of tracked | Share | Receipts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16, 2026 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 6% | |
| Jan 19, 2026 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 6% | |
| Aug 4, 2025 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3% | |
| Mar 31, 2025 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2% | |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 14 | 38 | 11 | 63 | 32% | |
| Mar 10, 2025 | 11 | 24 | 8 | 43 | 22% | |
| Mar 3, 2025 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 5% | |
| Feb 10, 2025 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 6% | |
| Jan 27, 2025 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 5% | |
| Jan 13, 2025 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 13 | 6% | |
| Dec 16, 2024 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 16 | 7% | |
| Dec 2, 2024 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 3% | |
| Oct 21, 2024 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 7% | |
| Sep 30, 2024 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 20 | 9% | |
| Sep 23, 2024 | 7 | 26 | 9 | 42 | 20% | |
| Sep 16, 2024 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 4% | |
| Sep 9, 2024 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1% | |
| Sep 2, 2024 | 13 | 36 | 7 | 56 | 26% | |
| Aug 26, 2024 | 6 | 16 | 4 | 26 | 13% | |
| Aug 19, 2024 | 12 | 30 | 8 | 50 | 24% | |
| Aug 5, 2024 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 19 | 9% | |
| Jul 22, 2024 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 4% | |
| Jul 8, 2024 | 4 | 15 | 3 | 22 | 12% | |
| Jun 17, 2024 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 5% | |
| Jun 3, 2024 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 18 | 8% | |
| May 27, 2024 | 7 | 16 | 3 | 26 | 11% | |
| May 20, 2024 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 16 | 7% | |
| May 13, 2024 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 2% | |
| May 6, 2024 | 8 | 18 | 3 | 29 | 12% | |
| Apr 29, 2024 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 21 | 9% | |
| Aug 7, 2023 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1% | |
| May 29, 2023 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 3% |
Latest coverage
Background
Boeing's Starliner, its capsule for carrying NASA crews to the International Space Station, was years behind schedule when it was finally readied for its first flight with astronauts in 2024.[6][7] Launch attempts in May were scrubbed, first two hours before liftoff and then because of a bad valve in the rocket, and a leak forced weeks more of checks.[8][9][10] Boeing launched Navy test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in early June, and the capsule reached the station after a delay on the way.[1][11] NASA then pushed back their return to allow more reviews of the problems,[12] and the astronauts said in July that they were confident the capsule could bring them home.[13]
Read the full background (2 more paragraphs)
By August, NASA said the chances were growing that they would have to come home on a SpaceX capsule instead,[14] and on August 24 it decided it was too risky to use Starliner, another blow to Boeing, as the AP put it.[3][15] NASA cut two astronauts from SpaceX's next crew to make room for Wilmore and Williams on the return trip.[16] Starliner undocked and landed empty in early September,[4][17] and the SpaceX capsule that would carry them home arrived at the station at the end of the month.[18]
The pair passed six months in space in December, and their mission was extended again, until spring.[19][20] Williams made a spacewalk in January, and the two then went out together.[21][22] After a launch pad problem delayed the flight,[23] the replacement crew arrived on March 16, 2025,[24] and Wilmore and Williams splashed down on March 18 after nine months in orbit.[2] Wilmore retired from NASA that summer, and Williams in January 2026.[25][26] Boeing's wider troubles with its 737 Max are followed in another arc.
Supporting stories (26)
- Boeing's astronaut capsule arrives at the space station after thruster trouble
- NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams return to Earth after 9 months stuck in space
- NASA decides to keep 2 astronauts in space until February, nixes return on troubled Boeing capsule
- Boeing Starliner Returns Home With No Crew: NASA Expert Explains Why
- NASA boss blasts Boeing and space agency managers for Starliner's botched astronaut flight
- Boeing is on the verge of launching astronauts aboard new capsule, the latest entry to space travel
- Boeing's first crewed space launch delayed, again
- Boeing Starliner crewed mission postponed until at least Friday
- Boeing calls off its first astronaut launch because of valve issue on rocket
- Boeing’s 1st astronaut flight now set for June after a review of small leak on new capsule
- NASA astronauts who will spend extra months at the space station are veteran Navy pilots
- NASA has again delayed Boeing Starliner’s return to Earth
- Astronauts confident Boeing space capsule can safely return them to Earth, despite failures
- NASA says chances are growing that astronauts may switch from Boeing to a SpaceX ride back to Earth
- NASA decision against using a Boeing capsule to bring astronauts back adds to company's problems
- NASA cuts 2 from next SpaceX flight to make room for astronauts stuck at space station
- With no crew aboard, spacecraft Starliner lands without a hitch
- Stuck NASA astronauts welcome SpaceX capsule that'll bring them home next year - The Daily Reporter
- NASA's stuck astronauts hit 6 months in space. Just 2 more to go
- NASA's 2 stuck astronauts face more time in space with return delayed until at least late March
- NASA's stuck astronaut steps out on spacewalk after 7 months in orbit
- NASA's 2 stuck astronauts take their first spacewalk together
- SpaceX delays flight to replace NASA's stuck astronauts after launch pad problem
- SpaceX Crew Dragon arrives at ISS to rescue stranded astronauts
- Astronaut Butch Wilmore retires from NASA less than 5 months after 286-day spaceflight
- NASA astronaut who was stuck at the space station for months retires within a year of returning
The full record
February 2026
January 2026
March 2025
- NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams join first press conference since return to Earth
- NASA's Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally returning home after nine months in space
- NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams return to Earth after 9 months stuck in space
- NASA's stuck astronauts welcome their newly arrived replacements to the space station
- SpaceX Crew Dragon arrives at ISS to rescue stranded astronauts
- SpaceX delays flight to replace NASA's stuck astronauts after launch pad problem
- New crew launches to space station, kicking off long-awaited return process for two NASA astronauts
- NASA's 2 Stuck Astronauts Are Finally Closing in on Their Return to Earth After 9 Months in Space
January 2025
December 2024
October 2024
September 2024
- Stuck NASA astronauts welcome SpaceX capsule that'll bring them home next year - The Daily Reporter
- SpaceX launches rescue mission for 2 NASA astronauts who are stuck in space until next year
- Elon Musk says the FAA should make Boeing pay for putting the Starliner astronauts at risk, not fine SpaceX 'for trivia'
- Boeing Starliner Returns Home With No Crew: NASA Expert Explains Why
- With no crew aboard, spacecraft Starliner lands without a hitch
- 2 Astronauts are Left Behind in Space as Boeing’s Troubled Capsule Returns to Earth Empty
- Stranded Astronauts Report Creepy Sounding Noises Coming From Boeing's Starliner
August 2024
- NASA cuts 2 from next SpaceX flight to make room for astronauts stuck at space station
- NASA finally gives Boeing Starliner capsule a return date. But it will fly home without its crew
- NASA astronauts who will spend extra months at the space station are veteran Navy pilots
- NASA decides to keep 2 astronauts in space until February, nixes return on troubled Boeing capsule
- Stranded in Space: Astronauts To Wait for SpaceX Voyage Home
- NASA decision against using a Boeing capsule to bring astronauts back adds to company's problems
- Could 2 NASA astronauts be stuck at the space station until next year? Here's what to know
- NASA delays next crew launch to buy more time at the space station for Boeing's troubled capsule
- NASA says chances are growing that astronauts may switch from Boeing to a SpaceX ride back to Earth
July 2024
June 2024
- NASA has again delayed Boeing Starliner’s return to Earth
- Boeing Starliner stable, en route to ISS despite 3 helium leaks discovered during test launch
- Boeing's astronaut capsule arrives at the space station after thruster trouble
- Boeing Starliner spacecraft docks at ISS with NASA astronauts after dramatic approach
May 2024
- Boeing’s first astronaut flight called off at the last minute in latest setback - Boston News, Weather, Sports
- Watch Boeing launch NASA astronauts on the company's Starliner spacecraft for the first time
- Boeing’s 1st astronaut flight now set for June after a review of small leak on new capsule
- Boeing Starliner historic crewed launch delayed again indefinitely
- Helium leak delays Boeing’s historic Starliner mission at least another week
- Boeing calls off its first astronaut launch because of valve issue on rocket
- Boeing Starliner crewed mission postponed until at least Friday
- Boeing is on the verge of launching astronauts aboard new capsule, the latest entry to space travel
- Watch live: Boeing launches the Starliner with NASA astronauts aboard
Coverage & sources
Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.