Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are pictured inside the vestibule connecting the International Space Station’s Harmony module and Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 13. The two astronauts, known for their extended nine-month stay in space, are now returning home. Williams, Wilmore, along with teammates Nick Hague from NASA and Aleksandr Gorbunov from Russia’s Roscosmos space agency, departed the International Space Station at 1:05 a.m. ET Tuesday in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule for a scheduled return on Tuesday afternoon.
Williams, Wilmore, Hague, and Gorbunov were part of the Crew-9 mission, a regular staff rotation managed by NASA and SpaceX. Originally expecting to travel back on a Boeing Starliner, the astronauts found themselves on a prolonged mission due to technical issues. Their return journey includes descending from the space station in the spacious SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule before reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, a risky phase of the trip. The crew is anticipated to splash down off the Florida coast by 5:57 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Controllers monitor the weather and the crew’s return journey progress. Once the vehicle splashes down in the ocean, a SpaceX rescue ship will retrieve the spacecraft, allowing astronauts Williams and Wilmore to breathe earthly air for the first time in nine months. NASA chose to integrate Williams and Wilmore into the International Space Station’s crew rotation instead of risking flying them home aboard the Boeing Starliner capsule last summer. Consequently, they are now returning with Hague and Gorbunov on SpaceX’s Crew-9 capsule. Following their return, medical teams will assess the crew’s health before determining further steps, with NASA crew members eventually returning to the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The Crew-9 team’s return coincides with the successful launch of the Crew-10 mission by NASA and SpaceX. The Crew-10 astronauts have docked with the space station to take over operations, enabling NASA to keep the US segment fully staffed without necessitating an additional return mission for Williams and Wilmore. While SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump have criticized the decision to delay the return of the Starliner astronauts, claiming they were abandoned by the Biden administration, NASA officials deny receiving any formal offer from SpaceX. Musk alleges that an offer to bring Williams and Wilmore home earlier was rejected for political reasons, but NASA officials maintain that such an offer was never presented to them.
The confusion continues as Musk suggests that the offer was taken directly to the White House, which supposedly refused it. However, it remains unclear why such discussions would involve the White House, as crew assignments and space station staffing typically fall within NASA’s jurisdiction. Despite Musk’s assertions, NASA and SpaceX officials have refuted any knowledge of such proposals. The situation underscores the complexity of space missions and the various factors at play in decision-making processes.
In preparation for any unforeseen circumstances that may arise, Walker emphasized the importance of having a variety of contingency plans in place. The mission of Williams and Wilmore has attracted significant attention and speculation, with ongoing efforts by the astronauts to dispel the notions of being “abandoned” or “stuck.” Wilmore expressed the desire to shift the narrative to one of being prepared and committed despite the negative rumors. Despite facing scrutiny regarding her appearance, Williams was confirmed by NASA to be in good health. Similar to other astronauts, Williams and Wilmore’s extended stay in space was not unprecedented, as seen with astronaut Frank Rubio’s unexpectedly prolonged mission due to a spacecraft issue. Rubio returned to Earth after spending a record-breaking amount of time in microgravity. NASA’s Dina Contella noted that there is no need for special precautions following Williams and Wilmore’s return to Earth, as astronauts typically undergo an acclimation period. Should any medical concerns arise, the Crew-9 team members can be transported to a nearby hospital in Florida. Despite the challenges of readjusting to Earth’s gravity, the astronauts are well-prepared due to their prior spaceflight experience. Williams and Wilmore have embraced their extended time in space as an additional opportunity that they were ready for.
During a September interview, veteran astronauts shared their love for space exploration. Suni Williams expressed her joy being in space, finding daily work tasks fun with a different perspective when done sideways. Despite missing their families, the astronauts were focused on their mission aboard the Boeing Starliner capsule’s crewed test flight last June. Trained and prepared, they seamlessly integrated into the space station staff, taking on tasks such as spacewalks for maintenance. As Williams reflected on her experiences in space during a March 4 news conference, she emphasized the unique perspective and problem-solving skills gained from living on the International Space Station. Join CNN.com for more news and updates.
