They’re Back! Stranded Astronauts Safely Touch Down on Earth

An eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) unexpectedly turned into a nine-month wait for a return to Earth.

Safe Return to Earth

Now, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally felt gravity’s pull again, safely splashing down off the Gulf Coast of Florida on Tuesday evening alongside NASA crewmate Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

The Boeing Crew Flight Test, launched on June 5, 2024, aimed to transport Wilmore and Williams to the ISS as a demonstration of the Starliner spacecraft’s capabilities.

Starliner Malfunction Delays Crew’s Return

However, in a significant setback for Boeing’s commercial space efforts, the spacecraft experienced engine malfunctions while approaching the station. A subsequent review determined that Starliner would return to Earth without passengers, leaving the crew aboard the ISS to await a “rescue” mission.

While NASA never officially labeled the astronauts as stranded, their mission stretched from days to weeks and eventually months as plans for their return were finalized.

Although they missed their friends and family, Williams and Wilmore said they enjoyed their time aboard the station. They stayed engaged with daily routines, took part in over 150 scientific experiments, and even conducted spacewalks.

Early Tuesday morning, the crew boarded a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule for a 17-hour journey back to Earth. Once in orbit, a brief engine burn guided the spacecraft into its final trajectory toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.

At 5:57 p.m. ET, the capsule safely splashed down, marking the conclusion of a mission that will be remembered in space history.

Read the original article on: Science Alert

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