Unexpected delays have turned an eight-day mission into a nine-month stay for NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The duo launched to the ISS in June on a test mission, anticipating a short visit. However, issues with the Boeing Starliner capsule that brought them to orbit rendered it unfit for their return trip to Earth.
Due to the capsule’s complications, NASA announced that Williams and Wilmore’s return would be postponed until at least late March. This extension aligns with the arrival of the four-member Crew-10 mission, now expected to launch in late March.
Joining them on the extended stay are NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who arrived at the ISS in September, three months after Williams and Wilmore. The quartet will return to Earth together after the Crew-10 team settles in.
“This handover period allows Crew-9 to share valuable lessons with the newly arrived crew, ensuring a smooth transition for ongoing science experiments and station maintenance,” NASA stated on Tuesday.
The Crew-10 mission was initially slated for a February launch but faced delays to provide additional time for preparing a new Dragon spacecraft. The setback aims to guarantee the safety and success of the upcoming mission.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
