Sunita William, Butch Wilmore to not return in Feb 2025, NASA announces new date
In significant development Indian origin astronaut Sunita Williams will not be returning to Earth in February 2025 as NASA has once again delayed the return. Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore won't be returning until late March 2025.
The US space agency said that SpaceX Crew-10 mission, originally scheduled for February 2025 has now been rescheduled to not anytime earlier than March 2025.
What was originally planned as a brief eight-day mission has transformed into an unexpected nine-month journey of scientific endurance.
Manager of Nasa’s Commercial Crew Program Steve Stich explained that the delay gives teams more time to complete the necessary work on the new Dragon spacecraft, highlighting the careful attention required in spacecraft preparation.
The Crew-10 mission will feature NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. They are continuing their training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center while awaiting their postponed launch.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has emphasized astronaut safety, stating that the extended mission and thorough planning demonstrate the agency's commitment to safeguarding its crew.
SpaceX has played a key role in managing the crew rotation, offering a reliable option as Boeing works to resolve Starliner issues.
For Williams and Wilmore, what was originally planned as an eight-day mission has now stretched to about nine months, showcasing the remarkable resilience and adaptability of astronauts in space exploration.
- PTC NEWS
