SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida. REUTERS
After nine months in space, two astronauts finally have a ride home. A new crew lifted off on Friday evening to replace NASA’s Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stuck at the International Space Station (ISS) since June.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at 7:03 p.m. ET from Florida, carrying four astronauts who will take over their duties on the ISS. NASA planned for some overlap between the two teams so Wilmore and Williams could brief their replacements before leaving. If all goes as expected, the pair will return to Earth next week, landing off the Florida coast.
NASA sent a rescue team on a SpaceX mission last September, leaving two empty seats for Wilmore and Williams. Now, their long wait is finally coming to an end.
The New Crew
The fresh team includes NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, both military pilots, along with Japan’s Takuya Onishi and Russia’s Kirill Peskov, both former airline pilots. They will spend six months at the ISS, the usual duration for missions.
Wilmore and Williams were originally test pilots for Boeing’s new Starliner capsule. Their mission was supposed to last about a week when they launched on June 5, 2024. However, multiple technical failures, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, made their return unsafe. NASA eventually decided to send Starliner back to Earth empty last September, forcing the duo to wait for another way home.
Their return was initially planned for February, but more delays followed. SpaceX’s new capsule required extensive battery repairs, pushing back the launch. To speed things up, NASA decided to use a previously flown capsule, finally setting the return date for mid-March.
Politics and Public Attention
The astronauts’ extended stay has gained worldwide attention and even sparked political discussions. Elon Musk and former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized NASA’s handling of the situation, blaming the previous administration for the delays.
Despite the controversy, Wilmore and Williams have remained supportive of NASA’s decisions. “We came prepared to stay long, even though we planned to stay short,” Wilmore said. He added that the agency’s priority was safety, not politics.
Life on the ISS
During their unexpected extended mission, the astronauts kept busy. They fixed a broken toilet, conducted experiments, watered plants, and even went on a spacewalk together. Williams set a record for the most time spent spacewalking by a woman over her career.
Last Wednesday, a hydraulics issue delayed the initial launch attempt of their replacement crew. One of the rocket’s support arms failed to tilt away before liftoff. SpaceX later fixed the problem by removing trapped air from the system.
Now, Wilmore and Williams are finally preparing to head home. They both look forward to reuniting with their families. Wilmore, a church elder, is eager to return to his congregation, while Williams can’t wait to walk her two Labrador retrievers.
“We appreciate all the love and support,” Williams said. “It’s nice to see so many people interested in what we’re doing in space.”
