 for over eight months, the duo might now come back to Earth in early March.){kind=link}
Key Takeaways:
– Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams might return to earth in early March.
– The two astronauts have been on the International Space Station for over eight months.
– SpaceX has been tasked with ensuring their safe return.
– The launch, in conjunction with SpaceX, is now scheduled for March 12.
– The Crew-10 mission will be utilizing an already flown Dragon spacecraft named ‘Endurance’.
Breathe Easy, Return is on Cards!
News is buzzing about two American astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Having been on the International Space Station (ISS) for over eight months, the duo might now come back to Earth in early March. This news has been confirmed by none other than NASA. Originally, their stay was planned for only eight days. However, due to a snag in their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, their return to home got unavoidably extended.
A Hitch, Then Hope!
The trip back home took a different trajectory when the Starliner faced propulsion issues. So, NASA decided it would return without its crew. In the light of these circumstances, Elon Musk’s brainchild SpaceX was a ray of hope. NASA tasked SpaceX with the ultimate responsibility of bringing Wilmore and Williams back to Earth. This declaration was made in August.
SpaceX, the Lifeline!
Elon Musk, who was a trusted advisor to then-president Donald Trump, took the responsibility seriously. He promised to work towards bringing the astronauts back to Earth as soon as he could. He looked at the situation with serious intent, aiming to build a safety net under Wilmore and Williams.
Coming Soon, Crew-9!
As we move further into the story, it is essential to spotlight SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission. In September, the mission sent two astronauts to the ISS on a spacecraft named Dragon. They specifically left two seats unoccupied. The unoccupied seats were reserved for the trapped astronauts Wilmore and Williams.
However, their homecoming was further delayed. It was supposed to happen due to Crew-10, which was initially planned to launch in March’s end. But plans changed again, with the mission’s date moved up, now looking at a tentative launch on March 12.
Going Back Before Moving Forward!
In a twist of events, NASA confirmed that instead of using a brand new Dragon spacecraft, the Crew-10 mission will now depend on a flown one named Endurance. This clever and pragmatic step saves the additional processing time that a new spacecraft would take. Following a brief handover period, the astronauts will begin their journey back to Earth.
Optimism Reigns!
Despite these unexpected hurdles, the astronauts remain high spirited. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are keeping a positive outlook. They reported in January that they have ample food supply and are enjoying their time aboard the ISS. Even though their stay got stretched out far longer than expected, it is not a record yet.
Some perspective — Frank Rubio, an astronaut, spent about 371 days on the ISS during his mission in 2023. This was due to a coolant leak in the Russian spacecraft which was supposed to bring him back. Wilmore and Williams haven’t broken his record yet, but there’s no denying their journey has been truly exceptional.
Keep your fingers crossed as we await the much-anticipated return of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Stay tuned for more updates!