NASA Astronauts Endorse Future Boeing Starliner Flights After 286-Day Mission

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who recently returned from an extended 286-day stay on the International Space Station (ISS), expressed their willingness to fly on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft again, provided the technical issues are resolved. Initially launched in June 2024 for an eight-day test flight, they remained in space due to thruster malfunctions, which NASA engineers are still investigating. Both astronauts acknowledged the unexpected nature of their mission, with Wilmore taking some responsibility for not asking critical questions before launch. Despite being labeled as 'stranded' by the media, they affirmed that they were never in danger and continued to conduct experiments during their stay. They emphasized the importance of rectifying the Starliner's issues to support future private spaceflight endeavors. The astronauts are scheduled to meet with Boeing officials to discuss their experience and the path forward for the spacecraft.