NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore set to return to Earth in March after extended space mission
PTC Web Desk: After spending over eight months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is preparing to conclude her extended spaceflight mission in March. Sunita Williams, currently serving as the commander of the orbiting laboratory, will return to Earth alongside fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore.
As per an interview with CNN from space, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore revealed that the Crew-10 mission is scheduled to launch from Earth on March 12, bringing a new team to the ISS for a six-month-long mission. The new crew's arrival will initiate a week-long handover period, during which a new Space Station Commander will take charge.
Following the transition, Sunita Williams and Wilmore will board the Dragon spacecraft, which initially carried Crew-10 to the ISS, to journey back to Earth. Their return is scheduled for March 19, marking the end of their mission. “The plan is that Crew-10 will launch on March 12, do a turnover for a week, and we will return on March 19,” Butch Wilmore stated during the interview.
The astronauts' return has been strategically planned to maintain the American contingent on the ISS at full capacity. Their journey to the space station last summer was aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which faced technical issues, necessitating coordination with the arrival of the Crew-10 team.
The decision to bring back Sunita Williams and Wilmore follows a directive from former President Donald Trump, urging SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to expedite their return. Although the timeline for their return was mostly pre-determined, Trump’s intervention accelerated NASA’s plans. In response, NASA confirmed its commitment to bringing the astronauts home “as soon as practical,” while emphasising that the decision wasn’t solely influenced by the presidential request.
Steve Stich, head of NASA's Commercial Crew Programme, acknowledged SpaceX's adaptability, stating, “Human spaceflight is full of unexpected challenges,” while commending SpaceX for its flexibility in managing the mission timeline.
This Crew-10 schedule adjustment is expected to impact Axiom Space's upcoming Crew Dragon mission, which aims to transport government astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary. Axiom Space, known for organising private and international astronaut missions with Crew Dragon, has yet to comment on the potential changes.
SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule was developed with approximately $3 billion in funding from NASA's Commercial Crew Programme. The initiative seeks to empower private companies in spaceflight to stimulate the commercial space market and reduce costs.
- With inputs from agencies
