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For nearly nine months, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have remained aboard the International Space Station (ISS), far beyond their planned eight-day mission duration. Now, with the successful launch of NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-10 mission and docking with ISS, their long-awaited return is finally within reach.<\/p>\n
Crew-10 mission launched at 23:03 UTC on March 14 from Launch Complex 39 A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted the Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov into orbit for a six-month-long science-focused mission abroad at the ISS.<\/p>\n
This launch marks the beginning of the crew rotation for Expedition 72\/73, enabling Crew-9 astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who have been in orbit since September 28, 2024, to finally return to Earth.<\/p>\n
Williams and Wilmore, part of Boeing\u2019s first crewed Starliner mission, have remained aboard the ISS far longer than planned due to technical issues with their return spacecraft, preventing their scheduled departure.<\/p>\n
Originally launched for a short-duration test flight in June 2024, the mission was supposed to validate Boeing\u2019s Starliner capsule as a reliable means of crew transport. However, after docking with the ISS, engineers identified multiple propulsion system malfunctions, preventing the capsule from safely making its return to Earth.<\/p>\n
The primary issue involved several helium leaks in the Starliner\u2019s propulsion system, which is responsible for maneuvering and deorbiting the capsule. NASA and Boeing engineers also detected concerns with the spacecraft\u2019s thrusters, which are critical for controlled descent. Despite troubleshooting efforts, these problems persisted, raising safety concerns and forcing NASA to postpone the astronauts\u2019 return indefinitely while a solution was developed.<\/p>\n
For Williams and Wilmore, the unexpected extension meant adapting to an unplanned long-term stay aboard the ISS. Although they were never in immediate danger, their situation was unusual, as the Starliner mission was originally intended to last only about two weeks.<\/p>\n
Over the months, they integrated into daily ISS operations, assisting with ongoing research, station maintenance, and exercise routines necessary to counteract the effects of prolonged microgravity. However, the delay also raised concerns about mission planning and highlighted the challenges of relying on multiple commercial partners for human spaceflight.<\/p>\n
The astronauts from Crew-10 arrived at the ISS on Sunday, March 16, as the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked autonomously to the forward-facing port of the Harmony module at 04:04 UTC while the station was approximately 418 km (260 miles) over the Atlantic Ocean. Following docking, the crew conducted standard leak checks and pressurization between the spacecraft and the station, leading to the hatch opening at approximately 05:45 UTC.<\/p>\n
The arrival of the four-member team has temporarily increased the station\u2019s population to 11 astronauts. Joining them are NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Don Pettit, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner.<\/p>\n
After a short handover period, Hague, Williams, Wilmore, and Gorbunov are scheduled to depart no earlier than March 20, 2025. Before their departure, mission teams will evaluate weather conditions at designated splashdown sites off Florida\u2019s coast. Mission managers are targeting an earlier Crew-9 return opportunity based on favorable conditions forecasted for the evening of March 18.<\/p>\n