NASA Astronauts Finally Returning to Earth After 9 Months in Space/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are finally returning to Earth after being stuck in space for over nine months due to Boeing’s failed Starliner test flight. Originally expected to return within a week of their launch in June 2024, the duo instead spent nearly a year on the ISS. They are now aboard a SpaceX capsule, aiming for splashdown off Florida’s coast by 6 p.m. Eastern.
NASA Astronauts Return to Earth After 9-Month Space Mission: Quick Looks
- Delayed Mission Ends: Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams left the International Space Station (ISS) early Tuesday after a nine-month extended stay.
- Boeing’s Starliner Failure: The astronauts were originally scheduled to return in June 2024 but were left stranded after Starliner suffered multiple issues.
- SpaceX Steps In: NASA transferred the duo to SpaceX, but additional capsule issues pushed their homecoming from February to March.
- Final Journey Home: The SpaceX capsule undocked at 1 a.m. Eastern and is expected to splash down near Florida at 6 p.m. Eastern.
- Political Controversy: President Donald Trump pressured Elon Musk’s SpaceX to expedite the astronauts’ return, leading to a capsule swap that cut weeks off the delay.
- Historic Spacewalk Record: Williams set the record for the most career spacewalking time by a female astronaut at 62 hours.
- Emotional Reunions Ahead: After landing, Wilmore will reunite with his daughters, and Williams will see her mother.
NASA Astronauts Finally Returning to Earth After 9-Month Mission
Stuck in Space: Boeing’s Failure, SpaceX’s Rescue
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are finally on their way home after spending an unexpected nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their mission, which was originally supposed to last just a week, turned into a marathon stay due to Boeing’s Starliner capsule malfunction.
After Starliner was deemed unsafe for return, NASA delayed their trip home multiple times before arranging for them to return via a SpaceX capsule. Additional technical issues with SpaceX’s Dragon capsule further pushed the timeline into March.
On Tuesday at 1 a.m. Eastern, Wilmore and Williams departed the ISS aboard a SpaceX capsule alongside NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Alexander Gorbunov. They are scheduled to splash down off the Florida coast at 6 p.m. Eastern, pending weather conditions.
NASA’s Tough Decision: Prolonging the Mission
Originally, NASA planned to send Starliner back with Wilmore and Williams soon after they arrived in June 2024. However, a series of technical failures, fuel leaks, and propulsion issues forced NASA to send the capsule back to Earth empty.
With no immediate backup plan, the two astronauts became full-time ISS crew members, conducting experiments, station maintenance, and even spacewalks. Williams, 59, took over as ISS commander for three months, while Wilmore, 62, assisted in critical repairs.
Despite the delays, the duo remained positive, drawing from their Navy experience of long deployments. However, they acknowledged that the extended mission was difficult for their families.
- Wilmore missed his daughter’s senior year of high school.
- Williams had to stay in contact with her mother through internet calls from space.
Political Pressure Accelerates Return
Initially, the brand-new SpaceX capsule set to bring them back was not ready. In response, SpaceX swapped in a used capsule, cutting weeks off the delay.
During their time on the ISS, Wilmore and Williams avoided public criticism of NASA’s handling of the mission, maintaining their support for the agency’s cautious approach to safety.
A Historic Mission: Spacewalk Records & Scientific Contributions
Although their return was long overdue, Wilmore and Williams made history.
- Suni Williams set a record for the most spacewalking hours by a female astronaut, logging a total of 62 hours across nine spacewalks.
- The astronauts participated in critical research and repairs, proving invaluable to the ISS team despite their unexpectedly extended stay.
What’s Next? Private Space Stations & Future Missions
NASA has relied on private companies like SpaceX and Boeing for astronaut transport since retiring the Space Shuttle program. However, Starliner’s failure raises concerns over Boeing’s reliability.
With the ISS set for retirement in 2030, NASA is shifting focus to private space stations and future moon and Mars missions.
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