Stranded US Astronauts Set to Return to Earth After Nine-Month Delay

After being stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are finally set to return to Earth on Tuesday evening. The duo, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will be transported aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

NASA initially planned their return for Wednesday but moved it forward to 5:57 PM ET (21:57 GMT) on Tuesday due to expected unfavorable weather conditions later in the week. The journey will be broadcast live, starting Monday evening when hatch closure preparations begin.

Technical Glitches Delayed Their Return

Wilmore and Williams were originally on a short test mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, but a propulsion issue rendered it unfit for their return. Instead of a days-long round trip, they ended up spending an unexpected nine months aboard the ISS, significantly surpassing the usual six-month astronaut rotation.

Not the Longest Space Stay, But a Challenging One

While their extended mission does not break records—Frank Rubio holds the US record with 371 days on the ISS in 2023, and Valeri Polyakov holds the world record with 437 days aboard Mir—the unexpected nature of their prolonged stay has drawn public attention and sympathy.

Since they had packed only for a short trip, additional clothing and personal care items had to be sent to them during their extended mission.

As they prepare to return home, NASA continues its work with Boeing to address Starliner’s technical issues, ensuring that future missions avoid similar setbacks.

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