NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are set to return to Earth after an unexpected nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Initially scheduled for a brief nine-day test flight, the two astronauts found themselves part of a longer rotation due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule. The mission, meant to test the spacecraft's capabilities, faced challenges that extended the astronauts’ stay significantly.
In June, Wilmore and Williams launched into space with expectations of a short mission. However, complications arose when their Boeing Starliner capsule experienced technical issues. The spacecraft, intended to bring them back after a short stay, was sent back empty by NASA to investigate its problems further. During their extended time on the ISS, Wilmore and Williams integrated into the regular crew, performing scientific experiments and conducting routine maintenance.
The return of Wilmore and Williams coincides with the arrival of new crew members. A rocket carrying four new astronauts launched on Friday evening, docking its capsule at the ISS approximately 29 hours later. This transition marks the end of the prolonged mission for Wilmore and Williams, who are now preparing to return to Earth on Tuesday evening.
The mission's extension was partly due to Boeing's Starliner spacecraft enduring significant setbacks, culminating in losses exceeding $2 billion. NASA had hoped for operational flights from both Boeing and Elon Musk's SpaceX, allowing for alternating missions to the ISS. However, technical difficulties with the Starliner raised concerns about its reliability, particularly when thrusters on the capsule "Calypso" failed during docking.
Despite these challenges, Wilmore and Williams continued their work in space. Notably, Suni Williams conducted a spacewalk as part of her duties. Meanwhile, political figures such as former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk commented on the situation, suggesting without evidence that the astronauts were "stranded" due to political reasons. The accusations were unfounded and did not reflect the official stance of NASA.
To ensure a timely return for its astronauts, NASA delayed the Crew-10 launch in December, opting instead for a reusable Dragon capsule from SpaceX. This decision expedited the process of bringing Wilmore and Williams back home. The astronauts will accompany NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov during their re-entry and splashdown on Tuesday evening.