Astronauts Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams to return to Earth
US astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally begun their journey back home after spending more than nine months at the International Space Station. The pair, along with fellow American Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, are aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Capsule named “Freedom,” set to re-enter Earth with a Florida splashdown scheduled for around 5:57 p.m.
Wilmore and Williams were initially supposed to spend only 10 days in space last summer but were stranded at the ISS when their Boeing Starliner capsule encountered leaks and mechanical issues. With Boeing’s commercial spaceflight ambitions taking a hit, SpaceX became the sole backup option to bring the astronauts back to Earth.
The duo had to wait for Hague and Gorbunov’s return shuttle, with SpaceX’s Crew 10 mission arriving over the weekend to relieve them of their duties at the ISS. Despite claims by Elon Musk that plans to bring Wilmore and Williams back earlier were shelved by former President Joe Biden due to political reasons, Biden administration officials have denied these allegations.
Due to the delays, Wilmore and Williams will have spent approximately 285 days in space, ranking sixth among NASA’s single spaceflight record holders. The current record is held by Frank Rubio, who spent 371 days in space after facing his own challenges when Russia’s Soyuz capsule experienced a leak in 2022.
The astronauts’ return journey marks the end of a long and unexpectedly extended mission in space, highlighting the complexities and uncertainties of space travel. As they prepare to touch down on Earth once again, their resilience and dedication to scientific exploration serve as a testament to the human spirit of adventure and discovery.
