Key Points
- SpaceX Crew Dragon docked at the ISS on Sunday, bringing NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
- NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been stranded on the ISS since June due to failures in Boeing’s Starliner capsule.
- After an eight-month stay instead of the originally planned eight-day mission, the two astronauts will return to Earth on the SpaceX Crew Dragon in February 2024.
- NASA decided not to risk using the malfunctioning Starliner for their return.
A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, tasked with bringing home NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, successfully arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday. The capsule, part of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, docked at 21:30 GMT, according to NASA and SpaceX. Shortly after docking, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov boarded the ISS, joining the crew already stationed there.
Wilmore and Williams, who have been stuck on the ISS since June, were originally supposed to return to Earth aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule. However, technical failures aboard the Starliner—including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks—led NASA to deem the spacecraft unfit for their safe return. The Starliner was sent back to Earth empty earlier this month, and plans were made for the astronauts to return aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in February 2024.
Wilmore and Williams, former military test pilots, were the first astronauts to fly on the troubled Starliner as part of a mission intended to last just eight days. However, due to the Starliner’s technical issues, their time aboard the ISS has now stretched into an eight-month ordeal. While prioritizing astronaut safety, NASA decided not to risk a return trip in the malfunctioning capsule and instead turned to SpaceX for a reliable alternative.
The Crew-9 mission, originally intended to carry four astronauts to the ISS, had to adjust to accommodate Wilmore and Williams, leaving two empty seats on the return flight. The two stranded astronauts will return to Earth alongside Hague and Gorbunov in the Crew Dragon capsule early next year.
SpaceX has become a critical partner in NASA’s space missions, particularly in light of Boeing’s difficulties with its Starliner program. The arrival of the Crew Dragon capsule at the ISS offers a solution for the astronauts’ unexpected extended stay. It highlights SpaceX’s role in ensuring the continuity of safe manned space missions.
