CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, stranded in space for eight months, may return to Earth earlier than expected under a new plan by SpaceX.
NASA announced that SpaceX will swap capsules for upcoming astronaut flights, allowing the duo to return by mid-March instead of late March or April. This adjustment could cut their extended stay by at least two weeks.
The astronauts were initially set to return in June 2024 after a one-week test mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner. However, technical issues during its journey to the International Space Station (ISS) forced NASA to bring the capsule back empty, leaving Wilmore and Williams waiting for an alternative ride home.
“Human spaceflight is full of unexpected challenges,” said Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew programme manager, acknowledging the need for flexibility in such missions.
The Boeing Starliner mission was meant to be a crucial demonstration for NASA’s commercial crew programme, but its difficulties raised concerns about reliability. As a result, NASA reassigned the astronauts to SpaceX, which has a proven track record of successful missions to and from the ISS.
Their extended stay highlights the unpredictability of space travel and the challenges of ensuring astronaut safety. With SpaceX’s Crew Dragon now set to bring them back, NASA aims to safely conclude this prolonged mission while continuing to refine its commercial spaceflight strategies.
