NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's Quick Mission Becomes Eight-Month Space Ordeal

What was first started as an eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) turned into an eight-month challenge for NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.

After several months, their rescue mission finally arrived on Sunday when NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov successfully docked the SpaceX Dragon capsule with the ISS.

Rescue Mission Arrives

Hague and Gorbunov, aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule, entered the ISS after opening the hatch between the space station and the pressurized mating adapter at 7:04 p.m. EDT.

They were warmly welcomed by the Expedition 72 crew, including Williams and Wilmore.

The SpaceX-launched mission is set to bring the stranded astronauts home next year.NASA’s Johnson Space Center celebrated the arrival with a post on X, stating, "The official welcome!The Expedition 72 crew welcomed Crew 9, NASA astronauts Nick Hague, the Crew 9 commander, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, the Crew 9 mission specialist, after their flight aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft."

A Mission Gone Wrong

Williams and Wilmore had initially launched on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft for its first crewed flight.

It was only an 8-day mission, but they encountered immediate issues upon arrival at the ISS on June 6.

Issues such as thruster failures and helium leaks made their return uncertain. NASA after analysing decided that it was too risky for them to return on Starliner.

In September, the spacecraft returned to Earth empty, carrying only equipment and leaving Williams and Wilmore stranded in space.

Extended Stay in Space

NASA eventually decided to bring the astronauts back using a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in 2025, extending their stay on the ISS far beyond the original plan.

Williams and Wilmore will now likely return in February and the extended stay of astronauts is testing the patience of two astronauts.