(LOOTPRESS) – Two American astronauts who have been unexpectedly stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June may return to Earth earlier than anticipated, NASA announced Tuesday.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams originally planned for an eight-day stay aboard the ISS, but their mission extended to more than eight months after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft experienced propulsion issues. Following weeks of rigorous testing, NASA determined the Starliner would return without its crew and turned to SpaceX for assistance in bringing the astronauts home.
New Return Plan with SpaceX
Initially, NASA planned for Wilmore and Williams to return on a SpaceX Crew-9 mission that arrived at the ISS in September, carrying two empty seats for them. However, delays in the launch of Crew-10, the next scheduled relief mission, postponed their return.
On Tuesday, NASA confirmed that Crew-10 is now set to launch on March 12, pending mission readiness. The revised plan, coordinated with SpaceX, involves using Endurance, a previously flown Dragon spacecraft, rather than a brand-new one, allowing for a quicker turnaround.
Awaiting Their Return
After the arrival of Crew-10, Wilmore and Williams will return to Earth following a handover period of several days,according to NASA.
Despite their extended stay, both astronauts have maintained high spirits, assuring NASA in January that they have ample food supplies and are making the most of their time aboard the station.
While their prolonged mission is significant, it has not yet broken the record set by Frank Rubio, who spent 371 days aboard the ISS in 2023 after his Russian return spacecraft suffered a coolant leak.
