Nasa astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are set to return to Earth two days after the arrival of the new crew, following a prolonged stay of over nine months due to technical delays.
SpaceX Launches Rocket to Bring Home Stranded Astronauts After Extended Stay
SpaceX Launches Rocket to Bring Home Stranded Astronauts After Extended Stay
SpaceX has successfully launched a rocket with a new crew heading to the International Space Station, marking the long-overdue return of two stranded astronauts.
SpaceX has launched a rocket carrying a new crew destined for the International Space Station (ISS), paving the way for the return of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Originally scheduled to spend just eight days on the ISS, technical issues with their spacecraft have kept them in orbit for over nine months. Steve Stich, manager of NASA's commercial crew program, expressed excitement for their return.
The ISS crew, which also includes NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will be relieved by four astronauts from NASA and international partners. A two-day handover period is planned, after which the returning astronauts will begin their journey back to Earth, pending favorable weather conditions for re-entry.
Dana Weigel, manager of the ISS program, emphasized that preparations for this handover have been underway for weeks. Suni Williams described her experience in space as her "happy place," despite concerns raised by experts regarding the personal toll of such an extended mission. Dr. Simeon Barber from the Open University explained that the extended stay could lead to significant upheaval in their personal lives.
Wilmore and Williams arrived at the ISS in June 2024, primarily to test Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which was marred by multiple delays and technical faults. NASA opted against using the Starliner for their return, prioritizing safety by choosing SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, resulting in a longer mission than expected.
Despite Boeing's claims that Starliner could have safely returned the astronauts, NASA’s decisions, grounded in safety and logistical reasoning, were backed by experts like Dr. Libby Jackson from the Science Museum in London. Both past political figures, including President Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, suggested that the astronauts' extended stay was politically motivated. However, NASA has consistently stated that the choice made was based on their safety and the best technical practices.
As the nation eagerly awaits the safe return of Wilmore and Williams, the successful launch of SpaceX's latest crewed mission adds another milestone to commercial space collaboration.
