NASA crew members delayed by spacecraft issues finally head home aboard SpaceX capsule
After more than nine months in space, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally begun their journey back to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). Their return, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was moved forward due to favourable weather conditions, NASA confirmed.
The two astronauts launched on 5 June aboard Boeing’s Starliner, a spacecraft intended to rival SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for transporting astronauts. However, shortly after docking at the ISS, the Starliner suffered multiple technical failures, including helium leaks, malfunctioning thrusters, and a faulty propellant valve.
Due to these issues, it was deemed safer for Wilmore and Williams to remain on the station while the Starliner returned to Earth without them. In the months that followed, the seasoned US Navy veterans took part in spacewalks, assisted with scientific experiments, and helped maintain the station’s systems.
Their long-awaited return is aboard a SpaceX spacecraft that arrived at the ISS in September, bringing new crew members and two empty seats for their journey home. However, additional delays arose due to technical problems with the SpaceX rocket, further extending their stay.
Despite the setbacks, both astronauts maintained a positive outlook, with Williams calling the ISS her “happy place” and expressing gratitude for the experience.
The replacement crew—NASA’s Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, JAXA’s Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos’s Kirill Peskov—arrived at the station on Sunday, marking the official transition of duties. The traditional ringing of the ISS ship’s bell welcomed them aboard.
Wilmore and Williams are now expected to splash down off the Florida coast at approximately 10pm GMT on Tuesday, concluding a mission that was originally intended to last just eight days but instead turned into an extended stay of more than nine months.
