Needham astronaut aboard Starliner capsule stay in space extended to 2025

Suni Williams, 58, is one of two astronauts whose stay at the International Space Station has been unexpectedly extended.

A local astronaut will spend their Halloween, Thanksgiving, and New Year in space, after her ride back to Earth experienced technical issues.

Needham native Suni Williams, 58, is one of two astronauts whose stay at the International Space Station has been unexpectedly extended.

Williams and the other veteran NASA astronaut, Butch Wilmore, 61, took to space in June 2024 on Boeing’s first manned Starliner capsule flight.

However, due to technical problems with the capsule, the two will be pitching in with the work found around the space station while they await a ride home with SpaceX. That ride will take place sometime in February 2025, according to officials.

Those technical problems began early in their sojourn in space, with five of the capsule’s thrusters failing the day after liftoff, according to NBC10 Boston.

Williams, who went to Needham public schools and now has the Sunita L. Williams Elementary School in Needham to her name (literally), had a cheering squad that watched her take off in June. She also managed to keep in touch with the students at the school, even from space, according to a post on X.

Williams and Wilmore are waiting on the next SpaceX taxi, as the one currently parked at the space station is reserved for four current residents who have been in space since March, according to reports.

As it’s unsafe to add two more people onto an already full four-person flight, Williams and Wilmore will be on the next flight from SpaceX, which is due to launch in late September. Two of the four astronauts were pulled from the trip to make room for the two former Boeing passengers upon its return.