After an unexpected nine-month stay on the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are finally preparing for their return to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.
The duo was originally meant to spend just eight days on the ISS testing Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, but technical faults with its thrusters and propulsion system made it unsafe for re-entry.
NASA had the option of bringing them back sooner but chose to wait for a scheduled crew rotation, allowing them to return on a more reliable spacecraft. “We looked at a wide range of options… the best option was to have the one we are embarking upon,” said NASA’s Steve Stich.
Boeing has defended Starliner’s safety, but the decision to use a competitor’s capsule instead has been described as “embarrassing” for the company. The delay also sparked political debate, with former US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk suggesting the astronauts were left in space “for political reasons.”
NASA officials dismissed the claims, emphasising that astronaut safety was always the priority. “NASA made those decisions based on good technical reasons,” said Dr Libby Jackson of London’s Science Museum.
Despite their extended mission, both Wilmore and Williams have remained in high spirits, with Williams calling the ISS her “happy place.” However, experts note that such an extended stay would have taken a personal toll. “When you’re sent on a work trip that is supposed to last a week, you are not expecting it to take the best part of a year,” said Dr Simeon Barber of the Open University.
Their return marks a crucial moment for NASA, SpaceX, and Boeing, as the agency reassesses its reliance on Starliner for future missions.
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