NASA’s “Stranded” Astronauts Coming Home After Nine Months in Space

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Originating from Earth in 1977, the twin Voyager spacecraft embarked on an epic journey to investigate the outer planets of our solar system and their satellites. After almost half a century, these resilient explorers continue to traverse interstellar space, well past the conclusion of their initial mission. Similarly, the Curiosity rover remains active on Mars, currently in its fourth extended expedition, having surpassed its original timeframe by over a decade. Notably, NASA is renowned for such prolonged missions, however, they typically don’t involve human crew members.

In June of 2024, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore reached the International Space Station (ISS) on Boeing’s experimental Starliner spacecraft. The aim was to test the vehicle and prepare it for regular crewed missions with NASA. Originally planned as a week-long voyage, the mission ended up lasting almost an entire year. Now, at last, Williams and Wilmore are returning home.

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Why astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were stuck on the International Space Station for nine months

Working overtime unexpectedly isn’t something people look forward to, but the sights from the International Space Station (ISS) certainly make it worthwhile. Veteran astronauts like Williams and Wilmore, who have spent considerable time in space with NASA, and retired test pilots, familiar with mishaps, understand this trade-off well.

Upon reaching the International Space Station (ISS), the Starliner spacecraft encountered a couple of issues. There were leaks in the helium system and the thrusters malfunctioned during docking. Fortunately, astronauts Williams and Wilmore arrived at the station safely. However, it remained uncertain if the Starliner could safely return them home due to these complications.

Firstly, Williams and Wilmore stayed on board the station to allow for an examination and possible solution. Approximately three months later, Starliner was detached from the station and returned without its crew. Since they no longer had a means of transport, getting home was challenging for Williams and Wilmore due to the intricate scheduling of space travel. Arranging a substitute proved to be difficult in this case.

NASA altered crew scheduling, moving two astronauts from SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, to make way for others. Initially, these astronauts were set to come back in February, but complications in the schedule and other hold-ups shifted their return date to around 3:00 AM on March 18, 2025.

For nearly nine months, from September 22, 2024, to March 7, 2025, I took on the role as commander aboard the International Space Station. This wasn’t my first time commanding this cosmic gaming arena, but it sure felt like a new level with fresh challenges. And guess what? I also broke the record for the longest spacewalking time by any female astronaut. Now that’s a high score worth celebrating!

Instead of a Dragon capsule and a substitute team, their ride back home materialized as a Dragon spacecraft and new personnel. On their last day aboard the station, Wilmore and Williams carried out routine checks and maintenance tasks, followed by gathering their belongings and being enclosed in the spacecraft.

NASA astronauts stranded on ISS finally coming home

Just as depicted in the TV show SYFY‘s The Ark, venturing into space is a complex affair, one that’s carefully planned but occasionally faces setbacks. In 2023, astronaut Frank Rubio broke the record for the longest single U.S. spaceflight, spending 371 uninterrupted days in orbit. Originally launched in September 2022 for a six-month mission, his stay was extended beyond a year due to a coolant leak in the spacecraft, which postponed his return. Unlike missions of Williams and Wilmore, Rubio’s prolonged flight was less prone to controversy and political debates.

This morning, around 1:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Williams, Wilmore, flight commander Nick Hague, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov bid farewell to the International Space Station (ISS) as they boarded a Dragon capsule. Their positions have been taken by Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers from the American Space Agency (ASA), Takuya Onishi from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Kirill Peskov from Roscosmos.

Currently, the Dragon capsule is circling Earth in preparation for its imminent landing. The spacecraft is planned to make a splashdown near Florida’s coast around 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time this evening, assuming weather permits. Upon their arrival on Earth, they will be transported to the crew quarters at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas for some health assessments. After that, they can truly go home, having spent 286 days in space.

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2025-03-19 00:04