When will NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams return? Everything we know
NASA astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams are scheduled to return to Earth after an unplanned nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Initially set for a brief mission, technical issues extended their time in orbit. They will return alongside fellow astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
Extended Mission
Wilmore and Williams launched to the ISS aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft in June 2024. The mission was the first crewed flight for the vehicle. However, technical problems arose, including propulsion issues, leading NASA to decide to return the spacecraft without its crew. The Starliner landed autonomously in New Mexico in September 2024. This decision left the astronauts aboard the ISS longer than planned.
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Integration into SpaceX Crew-9 Mission
After the Starliner's return without crew, Wilmore and Williams joined the SpaceX Crew-9 mission. This mission included NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The Crew-9 team awaited the arrival of their replacements to conclude their mission. The replacement crew, known as Crew-10, arrived at the ISS on Saturday after launching from Florida.
Scheduled Return to Earth
With Crew-10 aboard the ISS, Wilmore, Williams, Hague and Gorbunov are set to return to Earth. They will travel in a SpaceX Dragon capsule. NASA initially planned the undocking for Wednesday but moved it earlier due to weather conditions. The crew is now expected to undock early Tuesday morning from the ISS.
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