NASA has recently launched a new crew to the International Space Station (ISS) to relieve astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stationed there for nine months. The SpaceX mission, scheduled to arrive late Saturday night, ensures an overlap between the outgoing and incoming teams, allowing Wilmore and Williams to brief the new crew about ongoing activities in the orbiter. This plan paves the way for their undocking next week and eventual return to Earth, provided the weather permits a splashdown off Florida’s coast.
The fresh crew members include NASA pilots Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with Japan’s Takuya Onishi and Russia’s Kirill Peskov. They will spend six months aboard the ISS, a standard duration, while assisting in Wilmore and Williams’ return to Earth on a SpaceX mission. McClain remarked on the challenges of spaceflight and the resilience of humans shortly after the launch from Kennedy Space Centre.
Wilmore and Williams had initially anticipated their stint in space to last only a week after their launch on June 5. However, complications such as helium leaks and thruster failures extended their stay, prompting investigations by both NASA and Boeing. Ultimately, after ruling the Starliner’s return unsafe, it returned empty last September, leading to the astronauts’ reassignment to the SpaceX flight for an earlier return in mid-March.
Previously, the return of Wilmore and Williams was further delayed due to necessary battery repairs on the new capsule. To expedite their arrival back, SpaceX opted to use a previously flown capsule, thus shortening their extended mission.
Their prolonged stay in orbit drew significant attention, even sparking discussions about political responsibility for the delays, with notable figures like President Donald Trump and Elon Musk calling for an expedited return. Throughout their time, both astronauts expressed support for the decisions made by NASA management regarding safety.
In the meantime, they contributed to the upkeep of the ISS, conducting a multitude of experiments, repairing equipment, and partaking in multiple spacewalks—Williams setting a record for the total duration of spacewalks among women.
The duo acknowledged the emotional toll their extended absence had on their families and looked forward to reuniting and resuming their everyday lives, with Wilmore eager for personal and community engagement and Williams excited to walk her dogs again. In the midst of the challenges, Williams expressed gratitude for the support received from the public and noted the increased interest in space exploration stimulated by their mission.