NASA Astronauts Stranded in Space Returned after Nine Months

Key Points:

• Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, will return to Earth on Tuesday after being stranded in space for over nine months.
• They were unable to return earlier due to propulsion issues in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
• A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule will bring them back, along with two other astronauts.
• NASA moved up the landing to avoid bad weather, scheduling an ocean splashdown off Florida at 5:57 PM ET on Tuesday.

Why Were They Stranded?

• Wilmore and Williams arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) in June for a short mission.
• Their spacecraft, Boeing Starliner, had technical failures, making it unsafe for re-entry.
• NASA had to delay their return until a safer transport was available.

How Long Did They Stay in Space?

• A typical ISS mission lasts six months, but their stay extended to nine months.
• This is still shorter than:
  • Frank Rubio’s U.S. record of 371 days (2023).
  • Valeri Polyakov’s world record of 437 days (Mir Space Station).

Challenges Faced During Extended Stay

• The astronauts had to receive extra clothing and supplies since they hadn’t packed for a long trip.
• Their unexpected situation gained public interest and sympathy.

NASA’s Live Broadcast

• The return journey will be broadcast live starting Monday evening.
• Viewers can watch as hatch closure preparations begin before their journey home.