A long-awaited mission to return stranded US astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS) has officially been launched by NASA in collaboration with SpaceX. The two astronauts were initially scheduled to spend just eight days on the ISS back in June 2024, but due to unforeseen technical issues with the experimental spacecraft that transported them, they have been stuck in orbit for a total of nine months.
On Friday night, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully blasted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This rocket is carrying four astronauts, who are set to replace Williams and Wilmore aboard the ISS. The new crew is expected to arrive at the ISS early Sunday morning, around 3:30 AM GMT. Following this, Williams and Wilmore, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, are projected to return to Earth on Wednesday.
This mission has not been without controversy. Former President Donald Trump and his adviser, Elon Musk, who is also the CEO of SpaceX, made unsubstantiated claims that current President Joe Biden had deliberately abandoned Williams and Wilmore on the ISS for political reasons. Both astronauts have publicly rejected these accusations, asserting their commitment to the mission and the safety protocols involved.
Williams and Wilmore originally arrived at the ISS aboard a Starliner spacecraft built by Boeing, a competitor of SpaceX. NASA had initially planned for the Starliner to bring the astronauts back to Earth. However, critical issues were discovered with some of the spacecraft's thrusters, which are essential for slowing down the craft during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. Additionally, leaks of helium from the propulsion system were identified, prompting NASA to prioritize safety and forgo the Starliner for this mission.
As a result of these technical difficulties, the Starliner spacecraft was undocked from the ISS and returned to Earth for an automated, parachute-assisted landing in the New Mexico desert. Meanwhile, Williams and Wilmore remained aboard the ISS, awaiting their scheduled return on a crew rotation mission—a situation that has kept them in orbit for several additional months.
In a recent statement, Williams expressed her eagerness to return home to her family and her two dogs. “It’s been a rollercoaster for them, probably a little bit more than for us,” she remarked, highlighting the emotional toll of the extended mission.
The successful completion of this mission will not only reunite the astronauts with their families but also mark a significant milestone in NASA and SpaceX's ongoing collaboration in space exploration. As they prepare for their return, the focus remains on the safety and well-being of all crew members involved.
