Two US astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, have finally returned to Earth after being stranded in space for 285 days. Their initial 8-day mission aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft took an unexpected turn when the spacecraft experienced propulsion issues, forcing them to stay on the International Space Station (ISS) for nearly 9 months.
The astronauts’ prolonged stay was significantly longer than the standard ISS rotation of approximately six months. Despite the challenges, Wilmore and Williams made the most of their time, conducting scientific research and maintaining the ISS .
Their return journey began when a SpaceX Crew Dragon craft arrived at the ISS on Sunday, March 17. The spacecraft, named “Freedom,” was carrying a replacement crew, including NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.
Wilmore and Williams departed the ISS on Tuesday, March 18, alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. They splashed down safely off the coast of Florida at approximately 5:57 pm ET, marking the end of their remarkable and extended stay in space .
The successful return of the astronauts is a testament to the collaboration and expertise of NASA, SpaceX, and international space agencies. As Wilmore and Williams readjust to life on Earth, they will undergo a rehabilitation regime to recover from the physical effects of prolonged space travel.
