In June 2024, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore launched to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Boeing’s Starliner for what was supposed to be a two-month mission. What happened since then has taken many of us civilian earthlings by surprise. Helium leaks and problems with the spacecraft’s thrusters meant the capsule could not safely bring them home as planned, so NASA made the decision to bring Starliner back to Earth in September 2024…without a crew.

That decision left Williams and Wilmore in space months after their intended return, and on the station longer than anyone had anticipated. At first, NASA officials had hoped that Starliner might be ready for a crewed return by early 2025, but the spacecraft’s technical hiccups proved more complicated, making the agency pivot to a return aboard the SpaceX Crew-9 mission. According to a NASA statement shared with Houstonia, this new plan means the two astronauts will “return to Earth no earlier than late March,” when Crew-9 is expected to depart.

In the meantime, NASA says both astronauts have taken on full expedition duties aboard the station, remaining busy with everything from scientific research to routine maintenance. They’re also still finding time to engage in extravehicular activities (EVAs), commonly known as space walks, which are essential for upgrades and repairs on the aging outpost. The agency emphasized that Williams and Wilmore were aware of the “possibilities and unknowns,” particularly as each completed previous long-duration missions and served as US Navy officers before joining the organization.

The idea of an extended mission might seem overwhelming, but seasoned space travelers understand that life in orbit isn’t as chaotic as it appears from afar. Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr., a veteran astronaut who completed two NASA missions and even conducted a six‐hour space walk during one of the journeys, recalls the balance of work and reflection that makes space life both challenging and unexpectedly serene.

“I can’t think of a better place to reflect than to be around the globe at 17,500 miles an hour and looking down at the Earth,” Harris says.

Space crews also bring a piece of home with them. Personal items—photos, letters, an iPad with video games, even a favorite book or two—help remind them of the life waiting back on Earth. These personal touches go a long way in keeping spirits high during those long months. Besides, when you’re orbiting earth every 90 minutes, having a little reminder of your roots can feel quite grounding.

“What keeps you mentally sound is a balance between the activity that you’re responsible for carrying out and the time allotted for rest,” Harris says. “We also have a dedicated locker [with] things we want to bring back. Momentos for people we care about like friends, family, [and] institutions we have been part of.”

Then there are the small joys only a handful of humans ever get to experience. Watching 16 sunrises and sunsets a day. Floating from one module to another like a superhero. Aweing at the glorious ball that is Earth. But what exactly are those moments like when you’re up there for far longer than planned and the thrill of microgravity wears off?

For astronauts like Williams and Wilmore, structure is key. Every day aboard the ISS is meticulously planned by mission control, ensuring that astronauts stay productive while also getting the necessary downtime to rest, exercise, and communicate with loved ones.

Even with their packed schedules, one of the biggest challenges of an extended stay in space is keeping the body in top shape. Without gravity pulling them down, astronauts experience rapid muscle and bone loss—about 1 percent of bone density per month—which is why NASA requires strict exercise regimens.

“When you go into microgravity, the body tries to adapt to that,” Harris says. “As a consequence, we lose bone, we lose muscle attributes, our heart gets smaller, blood flow goes down, [and] our ability to fight illnesses is muted. It’s called Space Adaptation Syndrome.”

Williams and Wilmore’s situation is not an outlier. Past cases, such as Frank Rubio’s record-breaking 371-day mission ending in September 2023, have shown that with the right support, astronauts can adapt to these prolonged stays. Plus, long-duration missions like this offer crucial insights into how humans might one day live and work in space for extended periods. As NASA shifts its focus toward long-term lunar stays and eventual missions to Mars, every extra month Williams and Wilmore spend in microgravity helps researchers refine what it will take to keep humans physically and mentally strong on journeys that could last years. Whether it’s fine-tuning experiments on plant growth or ensuring that the station’s systems are running smoothly, every task they complete brings NASA one step closer to safely sending mankind deeper into space.

“They are encouraging me with the grace they have shown in dealing with the problems they have had with their vehicle and the changes they have had to go through and adapt,” Harris says. “They are demonstrating how resilient we are as people, and I just want to say thank you. They are examples to all of us, as to what we can be and what we can accomplish.”