Stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore set to return home after nine months on ISS

NASA’s Crew-10 arrives at ISS

After spending more than nine months stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to a malfunctioning spacecraft, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally a step closer to returning home. Their unexpected extended mission is nearing its end after a replacement crew successfully docked with the orbital station on Sunday.

Backstory: How the astronauts got stranded

Wilmore and Williams embarked on their mission in June 2023 aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was on its maiden crewed voyage. However, propulsion system failures rendered the spacecraft unsafe for their return to Earth. While the vehicle eventually returned to Earth without experiencing further major issues, NASA deemed it too risky for human transport.

Their mission, originally planned as a short test flight, turned into an unexpectedly prolonged stay aboard the ISS. With standard astronaut rotations lasting approximately six months, their nine-month stint was significantly longer than anticipated.

A joyful reunion in space

On Sunday at 05:45 GMT, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft arrived at the ISS carrying a four-member replacement crew. Live television footage showed emotional embraces and zero-gravity hugs as the arriving astronauts met their soon-to-be homebound colleagues.

“It’s a wonderful day,” Williams said, expressing her excitement at seeing new arrivals. “Great to see our friends arrive!”

NASA astronaut Don Pettit shared footage online, capturing the Crew Dragon vehicle approaching the ISS against the backdrop of Earth’s orbit.

Life on the ISS: Nine months in space

Despite their unexpected extended stay, Wilmore and Williams continued their scientific research and station duties. However, the prolonged mission presented logistical challenges—including the need for additional clothing and personal care items since they hadn’t packed for a long-term mission.

Though their stay has been remarkable, it falls short of the US spaceflight record of 371 days, set by Frank Rubio in 2023, and the world record of 437 days, set by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov aboard the Mir space station in the 1990s.

Preparations underway for return to Earth

Wilmore and Williams will soon begin preparations for their long-awaited return aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, with splashdown scheduled no sooner than March 19 off the Florida coast.

They won’t be returning alone—joining them on the journey home will be NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

Meet the replacement crew: Crew-10 Mission

The newly arrived Crew-10 team launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on Friday and consists of:

• Anne McClain (NASA astronaut, mission commander)
• Nichole Ayers (NASA astronaut, pilot)
• Takuya Onishi (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA)
• Kirill Peskov (Russian space agency, Roscosmos)

During their time aboard the ISS, the new crew will conduct scientific research, including:

• Flammability tests for future spacecraft designs
• Studies on the effects of space on the human body

With Wilmore and Williams soon heading back to Earth, their remarkable mission will be remembered as an unexpected yet successful endurance test in spaceflight history.

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