- NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore return to Earth after nine months on the ISS due to Boeing’s Starliner technical failures. They departed on a SpaceX Dragon capsule with two other crew members.
- The astronauts conducted pressure, communication and seal tests before departure, with NASA expecting optimal weather conditions for splashdown.
- Boeing’s Starliner program faces uncertainty, with reports suggesting it won’t fly again in 2025 due to ongoing technical issues.
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Two NASA astronauts who spent nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to technical failures with Boeing’s Starliner capsule are finally returning to Earth.
Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, originally set for a brief 10-day mission, were unable to leave the ISS as planned in June 2024. Their mission extended as NASA and Boeing worked to resolve Starliner’s issues.
NASA and Boeing opted to send the spacecraft back to Earth without a crew in September, extending Williams and Wilmore’s stay. NASA reassigned them as ISS crew members, replacing the astronauts originally scheduled for the station.
How are they returning to Earth?
A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying Williams, Wilmore, American astronaut Nicholas Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov undocked from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. ET.
After a 17-hour descent, the spacecraft is set to splash down off the Florida coast. NASA is assessing weather conditions to determine the exact location.
NASA officials expect optimal weather conditions for the return.
Before departure, the astronauts conducted pressure, communication and seal tests inside the capsule.
Did political debates impact the mission?
The extended mission became a subject of political debate, particularly involving SpaceX founder Elon Musk and President Donald Trump.
Musk, without evidence, claimed the Biden administration “abandoned” Williams and Wilmore. Trump suggested that the White House order a special rescue for their return.
The astronauts addressed the claims.
Wilmore previously told CNN, “We don’t feel abandoned, we don’t feel stuck, we don’t feel stranded.” He preferred the narrative of being “prepared and committed” rather than stranded.
However, he confirmed Musk’s statement that SpaceX had offered to bring them home, though he was unaware of the specifics.
What is the future of Boeing’s Starliner?
The return of Williams and Wilmore brought renewed attention to the future of Boeing’s Starliner program.
The spacecraft, developed under NASA’s commercial crew program, experienced multiple issues during its first crewed test flight, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks.
Starliner is unlikely to fly again in 2025, according to reports from Aviation Week. However, Boeing remains committed to resolving the technical problems and earning a new flight readiness certification.
NASA will broadcast the final stages of the descent, including splashdown and crew recovery, on NASA TV and the agency’s new streaming service, NASA+.
A press conference will follow to provide further details on the mission and the status of Starliner’s future flights.
