Sunita Williams and astronaut Butch Wilmore are getting ready to return to Earth after a much longer stay in space than expected. They initially launched from Earth aboard Boeing’s new Starliner capsule in June 2024. The mission was planned to last just eight days. However, technical problems left them stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) far longer than planned.

The astronauts have now been in space for nearly ten months. This extended mission forced NASA to adjust its plans. After significant delays, NASA and SpaceX have finalized a return schedule for the astronauts.

Sunita Williams

On March 12, 2025, SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission will launch, bringing new astronauts to replace Sunita Williams and Wilmore. This mission will carry NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov to the ISS. They will begin a six-month mission on the station.

After Crew-10’s launch, Williams and Wilmore will return to Earth aboard an older SpaceX capsule. Their scheduled return date is March 19, 2025. NASA has collaborated with SpaceX to ensure the safe return of the astronauts, even after their mission lasted far longer than planned.

Originally, Crew-10 was set to return Williams and Wilmore by late March or early April. However, the return timeline has now been moved up to March 12. SpaceX’s older capsule will bring them home by March 19.

Williams and Wilmore left Earth aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5, 2024. However, technical issues delayed their return, leading to a much longer stay than planned. Despite this, both astronauts kept working on scientific tasks aboard the ISS, contributing valuable data to NASA’s ongoing research. Stay updated with the latest world news on Gremin News for more details on their mission and its impact.

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