Nasa astronauts heading back to Earth on SpaceX Dragon capsule after being ‘stranded’ on ISS for months.

NASA Astronauts Return to Earth After Prolonged Stay on ISS

Two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, who were originally scheduled for a short mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), are finally returning to Earth after spending more than nine months in space due to the failure of Boeing’s Starliner capsule. The astronauts are traveling back on a SpaceX Dragon capsule alongside their fellow Crew-9 members.

Extended Mission Due to Starliner Failure

Williams and Wilmore arrived at the ISS on June 6, 2023, as part of Boeing’s first crewed flight test for the Starliner capsule. Initially, they were meant to stay for just ten days to evaluate the spacecraft’s operational capabilities before returning home. However, a series of technical malfunctions, including helium leaks and thruster issues, led NASA and Boeing to send the Starliner back to Earth without its crew in September.

With no immediate means of returning home, Williams and Wilmore had their stay extended indefinitely. They were integrated as part of the ISS crew, effectively replacing two other astronauts whose planned mission was postponed. The delay turned their short-term assignment into a nine-month-long expedition.

Departure and Journey Back to Earth

After extensive planning and weather assessments, the SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying Williams, Wilmore, NASA astronaut Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov undocked from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The spacecraft is expected to splash down off the coast of Florida at approximately 6:00 p.m. ET following a 17-hour return journey.

NASA astronaut Anne McClain bid farewell to the departing crew from the ISS, saying, “We’ll miss you, but have a great journey home.”

Inside the capsule, Hague acknowledged the significance of the moment, stating, “Crew-9 is going home. It has been a privilege to call the station home and contribute to the mission for the benefit of humanity.”

NASA officials monitoring the mission expressed confidence in the return’s success, highlighting “pristine” weather conditions for the scheduled splashdown.

Political Fallout and Controversy

The prolonged stay of Williams and Wilmore became a subject of political debate, with SpaceX founder Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump suggesting—without evidence—that the Biden administration had abandoned the astronauts. Musk claimed that he had offered to bring them back sooner but was rejected, while Trump framed the regularly scheduled Crew-10 rotation as a special rescue mission.

Wilmore, while acknowledging Musk’s claim, stated that he had no details on whether such an offer was made or rejected. However, he emphasized that he and Williams never felt “abandoned” or “stranded.” Instead, they preferred to describe their extended mission as being “prepared and committed.”

Musk’s statements led to a dispute with Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who refuted Musk’s claim that Williams and Wilmore were abandoned. Mogensen pointed out that their return was scheduled as early as September. In response, Musk insulted Mogensen, further escalating tensions with NASA veterans such as Scott and Mark Kelly. Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and current Democratic senator, has been a vocal critic of Musk, particularly regarding his stance on U.S. foreign policy and funding decisions.

Challenges and Uncertain Future for Boeing’s Starliner

The failure of Boeing’s Starliner capsule has cast doubts over its future in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Engineers at the White Sands facility in New Mexico are still investigating the cause of the thruster malfunctions and helium leaks that plagued its first crewed mission. Aviation Week has reported that Starliner is unlikely to fly again before 2025, as Boeing works toward earning a new flight readiness certification.

Despite these setbacks, Boeing remains committed to the Starliner program, aiming to resolve technical issues and regain NASA’s confidence.

Live Coverage and Next Steps

NASA will provide live coverage of the final stages of Dragon’s return journey, including the splashdown and crew recovery. The event will be broadcast on NASA TV and the agency’s new streaming service, NASA+. A press conference will follow to discuss the mission’s outcomes and future plans for the Commercial Crew Program.

As Williams and Wilmore prepare to return home after their unexpectedly long stay in space, their journey highlights both the challenges and resilience of human spaceflight, as well as the importance of reliable technology in NASA’s ongoing missions to the ISS and beyond.

Reference

www.theguardian.com