☰
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, stranded on the International Space Station for nearly nine months due to issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule, are set to return to Earth. The arrival of the Crew-10 team aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon marks the final phase of their extended mission.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) after opening its hatch on Sunday. The arrival brought much-needed relief to NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stuck in orbit for over nine months. The docking was broadcast live, showing the Crew Dragon astronauts warmly greeting their fellow crew members in zero gravity.
Shortly after docking to the , Crew-10 was welcomed by an orbital sunrise.
Welcome to space, Anne, Nichole, Takuya, and Kirill 🧑🚀 pic.twitter.com/ePL3h2HgSE
The newly arrived Crew-10 team includes NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. Their mission is to relieve Williams and Wilmore, who have been aboard the ISS since their mission began last June.
The Crew-10 team is set to spend the coming days adjusting to life aboard the International Space Station and gradually assuming the duties previously handled by Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. Williams and Wilmore, who initially anticipated a short mission, have remained in space for almost nine months because of technical issues that delayed the return of their spacecraft.
| Stranded for 9 months at International Space Station (ISS), astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to return to earth
A SpaceX rocket carrying a new crew has docked at the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a plan to bring astronauts home. The astronauts… pic.twitter.com/rb38BeCEQ6
Williams and Wilmore initially launched aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule, which encountered multiple problems during its first crewed mission, resulting in the astronauts remaining in orbit far longer than planned. Their return was further postponed as their replacement spacecraft required significant battery repairs, causing additional delays of several weeks.
With the arrival of the Crew-10 team, the final phase of Williams and Wilmore’s extended mission is now underway. The two astronauts are expected to make their long-awaited journey back to Earth aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule later this week.
SpaceX, NASA launch mission to bring back Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore from ISS; WATCH
subscribe to Asianet Newsable WhatsApp channel by clicking here.
