NASA confirms delayed return of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore aboard the ISS
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore are now expected to return to Earth in late March 2025 after a series of delays, according to NASA. This announcement marks the culmination of an extended mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), reported gujaratsamachar.com.
A Prolonged Stay in Space
The astronauts have been aboard the ISS since June 2024. Initially planned as a short mission, technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft have prolonged their stay by several months. The Starliner was slated for a test flight mission, with the astronauts originally scheduled to return within a week of their arrival on June 6, 2024. However, complications in the spacecraft’s design caused significant delays, leaving them stranded on the ISS.
Celebrating the Holidays in Orbit.
On Tuesday, NASA’s Johnson Space Center shared a festive photograph of Don Pettit and Sunita Williams celebrating Christmas aboard the space station. “Don Pettit and Suni Williams pose for a fun holiday season portrait while speaking on a ham radio inside the @Space_Station’s Columbus laboratory module,” NASA shared on X.
NASA’s Continued Efforts
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To ensure a smooth transition for the next crew, NASA plans to launch the Crew-10 mission in February 2025
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However, this mission has also been delayed due to ongoing fabrication, assembly, testing, and integration of a new Dragon spacecraft by SpaceX
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The delay extends Williams and Wilmore’s mission by another month, pushing their return to late March 2025.
Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Manager, emphasized the importance of safety and thorough testing. “The purpose of this extended handover period is to allow Crew-9 to share lessons learned with the incoming Crew-10, ensuring seamless operations and ongoing scientific research at the ISS,” he said.
A Mission Marked by Challenges and Achievements
Despite the setbacks, Williams and Wilmore have continued to contribute to vital research and maintenance activities aboard the ISS. Their extended stay reflects NASA’s commitment to resolving technical challenges while prioritizing astronaut safety.
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