NASA astronaut Sunita Williams’ long-awaited return from the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed yet again.
Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore have been stranded in space for nine months after their trip on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was originally meant to last just eight days. However, safety concerns with Starliner have repeatedly extended their stay.
The latest delay follows the cancellation of SpaceX’s Crew-10 launch, which was supposed to bring in a new crew and clear the way for Williams and Wilmore to head back to Earth. The launch was called off due to a technical issue with a ground support clamp arm on the Falcon 9 rocket. NASA has stated that the next possible launch date is no earlier than Saturday, pending a thorough technical review.
If Crew-10 successfully launches, Williams and Wilmore are expected to leave the ISS after March 20. The incoming Crew-10 team includes NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA’s Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos’ Kirill Peskov.
Despite the prolonged mission, NASA assures that astronaut safety is its highest priority. The ISS remains fully stocked, ensuring the crew has the necessary supplies to continue their work without issue.
Williams’ extended stay underscores her expertise and commitment as a veteran astronaut, having set records for spacewalk duration. As NASA and SpaceX work to resolve the technical issues, the world eagerly awaits the safe return of these astronauts, closing a remarkable chapter in space exploration.
NASA had initially moved up the Crew-10 mission after calls from former President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to bring Wilmore and Williams back sooner than originally planned. However, their brief mission has stretched into an unexpected and historic journey after Starliner returned to Earth without them last year.
