NASA’s two astronauts, who were stranded in space for months due to a failed Boeing test flight, are finally returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams departed the International Space Station early Tuesday, accompanied by two other astronauts. Their SpaceX capsule undocked in the early hours and is set to splash down off Florida’s coast by evening, depending on weather conditions.
Originally, Wilmore and Williams were scheduled for a brief mission after launching aboard Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule on June 5. However, multiple technical failures forced NASA to send Starliner back empty, leaving the astronauts stranded. Their return was pushed to February and later delayed again due to SpaceX capsule issues.
With their replacements arriving on Sunday, NASA expedited their departure to avoid potential weather disruptions. The pair left the space station alongside NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, who had arrived months earlier with two open seats reserved for them.
“We'll miss you, but have a great journey home,” NASA astronaut Anne McClain radioed as the capsule separated from the station, orbiting 260 miles (418 kilometers) above the Pacific Ocean.
Their prolonged stay captivated global attention, with many joking they were “stuck at work.” While other astronauts have spent longer periods in space, few have faced such prolonged uncertainty about their return.
During their unexpected extended mission, Wilmore and Williams integrated into the station’s operations, carrying out research, equipment repairs, and even spacewalks. Williams, with 62 hours logged across nine spacewalks, set a new record for the most time spent outside a spacecraft by a female astronaut. She also took command of the space station three months into their stay, holding the position until earlier this month.
NASA's stranded astronauts greet their replacements at space station
The mission took a political turn in January when former President Donald Trump urged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to accelerate their return, blaming delays on the Biden administration. SpaceX, still preparing a new capsule for the replacement crew, instead opted to send a previously used one, helping to expedite their departure by several weeks.
Despite the controversy, Wilmore and Williams maintained their professionalism, expressing support for NASA’s decisions throughout their time in orbit.
NASA initially contracted both SpaceX and Boeing to transport astronauts after the retirement of the space shuttle program. The goal was to have two U.S. companies providing crewed flights to the station until its planned decommissioning in 2030. By then, the orbiting laboratory will have operated for over 30 years, with private companies expected to take over low-Earth orbit research while NASA shifts focus to the Moon and Mars.
Both retired Navy captains, Wilmore and Williams said they didn’t mind the extended mission, comparing it to long military deployments. However, they acknowledged the personal sacrifices—Wilmore, 62, missed much of his daughter’s senior year of high school, while Williams, 59, could only communicate with her mother via space-to-ground internet calls.
SpaceX delays flight to replace NASA's stuck astronauts after launch pad problem
Their long-awaited reunion with family will have to wait a bit longer—after splashdown, they’ll be transported to Houston before finally seeing their loved ones in person.
Source: With input from agency