2 NASA astronauts return after extended missions.
Two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stationed on the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months instead of their originally planned weeklong stay, are finally set to return to Earth on Tuesday.
Their journey home began when a SpaceX Dragon capsule detached from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. EDT. Williams and Wilmore, accompanied by fellow NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, are scheduled to make a splashdown off the Florida coast at approximately 5:57 p.m. EDT.
The two astronauts initially launched aboard a Boeing spacecraft last June for what was meant to be an eight-day mission. However, technical issues with the capsule prevented their timely return, forcing them to integrate into the ISS crew for an extended stay. Their prolonged mission, entangled with political challenges, has sparked concerns over Boeing’s capability to execute NASA missions reliably. Tuesday’s return will finally bring their unexpected space saga to an end.
How an 8-Day Mission Turned into a 9-Month Stay in Space
On June 5, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore embarked on their journey aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, marking the capsule’s first crewed flight under NASA’s commercial crew program. This initiative, which also includes SpaceX, partners with private companies to transport astronauts and cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS). While SpaceX has been consistently successful in these missions, Boeing’s Starliner faced significant hurdles.
Despite reaching the ISS, the spacecraft encountered multiple technical issues, including helium leaks and faulty thrusters. Given these malfunctions, NASA opted to bring the Starliner back to Earth without any crew onboard, deeming it too risky for a return flight.
As a result, Williams and Wilmore remained on the ISS, integrating into the station’s regular operations until their replacements could arrive. That long-awaited moment finally came early Sunday morning when two NASA astronauts, a Japanese astronaut, and a Russian cosmonaut docked at the ISS and stepped through the hatch to join their colleagues.
Politics Surrounds Astronauts’ Prolonged Stay as Trump and NASA Offer Conflicting Narratives
The unexpected extension of Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore’s space mission has become a political talking point, spanning two presidential administrations.
In January, former President Donald Trump claimed that the Biden administration had “abandoned” the astronauts in space. He stated that he had personally asked SpaceX founder Elon Musk to retrieve them. However, NASA dismissed these claims, clarifying that their return was always planned.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule designated for their journey home had been docked at the ISS since September, arriving with two empty seats reserved for Williams and Wilmore’s return. NASA explained that the decision to extend their stay was based on technical and budgetary considerations. During their prolonged mission, the astronauts continued valuable research and participated in spacewalks.
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Musk later alleged that he had offered to bring the astronauts home earlier but was met with resistance from the Biden administration, which he claimed delayed their return for “political reasons.” However, former NASA officials, including ex-administrator Bill Nelson, stated they did not know about such an offer.
On Monday, Trump took to his social media platform to thank NASA’s acting Administrator Janet Petro, and the agency’s staff for facilitating the astronauts’ return while simultaneously accusing the Biden administration of incompetence in handling the situation.
