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SpaceX has launched a rocket carrying a new crew to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a plan to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams home. The pair were due to be on the ISS for only eight days, but because of technical issues with the experimental spacecraft they arrived on, they have been there for more than nine months.
The astronauts are due to begin their journey back to Earth two days after the new crew arrives. Steve Stich, manager of NASA's commercial crew program, expressed his excitement for their return. "Butch and Suni have done a great job and we are excited to bring them back," he stated.
NASA’s Wilmore and Williams will be relieved by four new astronauts from Russia, Japan, and the US. There will be a two-day handover after which the departing crew is scheduled to return to Earth. However, there could be a delay in re-entry as they await suitable conditions, according to Dana Weigel, manager of the ISS program. She noted that the astronauts have initiated preparations for their handover and transitioned command ceremonially.
Both astronauts expressed contentment with their extended stay, with Williams describing the ISS as her "happy place." However, expert Dr. Simeon Barber pointed to the personal costs of an unexpectedly prolonged mission, noting disruptions to family life and other missed events back home.
Wilmore and Williams arrived at the ISS in June 2024 as part of a test mission for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which faced extensive technical delays. NASA opted for the safer route of using SpaceX’s Dragon capsule rather than risking a return on Starliner, which Boeing argued could have been viable. This decision has sparked criticism from some quarters, including remarks made by former President Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk regarding perceived delays for political reasons, assertions that NASA has denied.
The focus remains on the safety and wellbeing of the astronauts, with NASA’s decisions grounded in thorough technical evaluations to ensure the best potential outcomes for those in space. Dr. Libby Jackson, head of space at the Science Museum in London, emphasized the priority placed on Wilmore and Williams' safety in the decision-making process. She looks forward to their safe return.
SpaceX has launched a rocket carrying a new crew to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a plan to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams home. The pair were due to be on the ISS for only eight days, but because of technical issues with the experimental spacecraft they arrived on, they have been there for more than nine months.
The astronauts are due to begin their journey back to Earth two days after the new crew arrives. Steve Stich, manager of NASA's commercial crew program, expressed his excitement for their return. "Butch and Suni have done a great job and we are excited to bring them back," he stated.
NASA’s Wilmore and Williams will be relieved by four new astronauts from Russia, Japan, and the US. There will be a two-day handover after which the departing crew is scheduled to return to Earth. However, there could be a delay in re-entry as they await suitable conditions, according to Dana Weigel, manager of the ISS program. She noted that the astronauts have initiated preparations for their handover and transitioned command ceremonially.
Both astronauts expressed contentment with their extended stay, with Williams describing the ISS as her "happy place." However, expert Dr. Simeon Barber pointed to the personal costs of an unexpectedly prolonged mission, noting disruptions to family life and other missed events back home.
Wilmore and Williams arrived at the ISS in June 2024 as part of a test mission for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which faced extensive technical delays. NASA opted for the safer route of using SpaceX’s Dragon capsule rather than risking a return on Starliner, which Boeing argued could have been viable. This decision has sparked criticism from some quarters, including remarks made by former President Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk regarding perceived delays for political reasons, assertions that NASA has denied.
The focus remains on the safety and wellbeing of the astronauts, with NASA’s decisions grounded in thorough technical evaluations to ensure the best potential outcomes for those in space. Dr. Libby Jackson, head of space at the Science Museum in London, emphasized the priority placed on Wilmore and Williams' safety in the decision-making process. She looks forward to their safe return.
