NASA's stranded astronauts are now returning to Earth
NASA's two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, embarked on their journey back to Earth aboard SpaceX on Tuesday, concluding a dramatic mission that began with a problematic Boeing test flight more than nine months ago. The duo said...
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NASA's two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, embarked on their journey back to Earth aboard SpaceX on Tuesday, concluding a dramatic mission that began with a problematic Boeing test flight more than nine months ago.
The duo said goodbye to the International Space Station, which had been their home since last spring, as they departed in a SpaceX capsule alongside two other astronauts. The capsule undocked in the early morning hours and was set to splash down off the Florida coast by evening, contingent on weather conditions.
Initially, Wilmore and Williams were expected to return just a week after their launch on Boeing's Starliner crew capsule on June 5, 2024. However, numerous issues arose during their journey to the space station, leading NASA to send the Starliner back empty and transfer the test pilots to SpaceX, delaying their return until February. Complications with the SpaceX capsule further postponed their homecoming by another month.
The arrival of their replacement crew on Sunday finally allowed Wilmore and Williams to leave. NASA made the decision to release them earlier than planned due to uncertain weather forecasts for the upcoming week. They checked out with NASA's Nick Hague and Russia's Alexander Gorbunov, who had arrived in their own SpaceX capsule the previous fall, with two empty seats reserved for the Starliner crew.
Their situation garnered global attention, giving a new twist to the phrase "stuck at work." While other astronauts have endured longer missions over the years, none have faced such extensive uncertainty or a significant extension of their mission.
Transitioning swiftly from guests to integral members of the station crew, Wilmore and Williams conducted experiments, repaired equipment, and even completed spacewalks together. During their time, Williams made history with 62 hours logged over nine spacewalks, setting a record for the most time spent in spacewalking by a female astronaut throughout her career.
Both astronauts were experienced on the orbiting laboratory and refreshed their training before launching. Three months into their stay, Williams became the station's commander and maintained that role until earlier this month.
Throughout their public appearances from orbit, both maintained a professional demeanor, refraining from assigning blame and expressing their continued support for NASA's decisions from the outset.
After the conclusion of the shuttle program, NASA enlisted the services of SpaceX and Boeing, aiming to establish two competing U.S. companies for astronaut transportation to the space station until its planned retirement in 2030, after three decades in space. The intention is to replace the ISS with privately operated stations, allowing NASA to concentrate on lunar and Martian explorations.
As retired Navy captains, Wilmore and Williams emphasized that they were not bothered by their extended time in space, likening it to their military experiences. However, they acknowledged the challenges it posed for their families.
Wilmore, 62, missed much of his younger daughter's senior year in high school, while his older daughter is currently in college. Williams, 59, kept in touch with her mother through internet calls from space. Their long-awaited reunions with loved ones will have to wait until they are off the SpaceX recovery ship and flown to Houston.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
The duo said goodbye to the International Space Station, which had been their home since last spring, as they departed in a SpaceX capsule alongside two other astronauts. The capsule undocked in the early morning hours and was set to splash down off the Florida coast by evening, contingent on weather conditions.
Initially, Wilmore and Williams were expected to return just a week after their launch on Boeing's Starliner crew capsule on June 5, 2024. However, numerous issues arose during their journey to the space station, leading NASA to send the Starliner back empty and transfer the test pilots to SpaceX, delaying their return until February. Complications with the SpaceX capsule further postponed their homecoming by another month.
The arrival of their replacement crew on Sunday finally allowed Wilmore and Williams to leave. NASA made the decision to release them earlier than planned due to uncertain weather forecasts for the upcoming week. They checked out with NASA's Nick Hague and Russia's Alexander Gorbunov, who had arrived in their own SpaceX capsule the previous fall, with two empty seats reserved for the Starliner crew.
Their situation garnered global attention, giving a new twist to the phrase "stuck at work." While other astronauts have endured longer missions over the years, none have faced such extensive uncertainty or a significant extension of their mission.
Transitioning swiftly from guests to integral members of the station crew, Wilmore and Williams conducted experiments, repaired equipment, and even completed spacewalks together. During their time, Williams made history with 62 hours logged over nine spacewalks, setting a record for the most time spent in spacewalking by a female astronaut throughout her career.
Both astronauts were experienced on the orbiting laboratory and refreshed their training before launching. Three months into their stay, Williams became the station's commander and maintained that role until earlier this month.
Throughout their public appearances from orbit, both maintained a professional demeanor, refraining from assigning blame and expressing their continued support for NASA's decisions from the outset.
After the conclusion of the shuttle program, NASA enlisted the services of SpaceX and Boeing, aiming to establish two competing U.S. companies for astronaut transportation to the space station until its planned retirement in 2030, after three decades in space. The intention is to replace the ISS with privately operated stations, allowing NASA to concentrate on lunar and Martian explorations.
As retired Navy captains, Wilmore and Williams emphasized that they were not bothered by their extended time in space, likening it to their military experiences. However, they acknowledged the challenges it posed for their families.
Wilmore, 62, missed much of his younger daughter's senior year in high school, while his older daughter is currently in college. Williams, 59, kept in touch with her mother through internet calls from space. Their long-awaited reunions with loved ones will have to wait until they are off the SpaceX recovery ship and flown to Houston.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
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