A pair of astronauts have been stranded on the International Space Station since June
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) in June for what was supposed to be an eight-day expedition. However, they were forced to remain in space due to a defect in the Boeing Starliner capsule that transported them there.
It was reported that a small helium leak was detected prior to the launch, but the engineers believed that it would not affect the safety of the mission and approved the vessel to launch anyway. The flight was Boeing’s first attempt to take astronauts to the ISS.
During the #Starliner crew’s live update from @Space_Station, Commander Butch Wilmore brought the focus back to day one.
Learn more about their Crew Flight Test launch and manual flying experiences: https://t.co/WE4YjPjsHm pic.twitter.com/wstVuA0eA1
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) July 10, 2024
During the trip to the ISS, the Starliner developed four more helium leaks, and five of its 28 maneuvering thrusters cut out, causing the return home to be postponed indefinitely.
In late August, it was determined that the Starliner would not be able to transport Wilmore and Williams home safely. The spacecraft would return to Earth unmanned, and the astronauts would become stranded.
During today’s Agency Flight Readiness Review, NASA decided to autonomously return Starliner from the International Space Station. pic.twitter.com/rVkYhVSJPR
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) August 24, 2024
A SpaceX capsule has arrived at the ISS to bring the stranded astronauts home
On Saturday, September 28th, SpaceX’s Dragon capsule took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. SpaceX, founded by billionaire mogul Elon Musk, became the first private company to take passengers to the ISS in 2020.
The launch was originally scheduled for the day before, but had to be postponed due to Hurricane Helene’s arrival and subsequent damage. Watch the launch below!
Liftoff of Crew-9! pic.twitter.com/laQRTLp4vC
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 28, 2024
The vessel carried Crew-9, composed of NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, to the ISS as it flew over Botswana in southern Africa.
Meet the crew flying aboard Dragon for @NASA’s Crew-9 mission to the @Space_Station → https://t.co/3NmG8U1Cx9 pic.twitter.com/n4s8iVhT2W
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 28, 2024
The pair docked later that afternoon and will join the space station’s crew before taking Wilmore and Williams back to Earth. Watch the celebratory reunion as Crew-9 arrives at the International Space Station in the video below!
SpaceX Crew Arrives at International Space Station to Retrieve Stranded Astronauts pic.twitter.com/uNYN1zGETB
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) October 1, 2024
Crew-9 will conduct over 200 scientific and technological demonstrations during their time at the Space Station
Hague and Gorbunov will join the Expedition 72 crew at the ISS for an approximately 5-month stay. During their mission, they will conduct over 200 studies, including “blood clotting studies, moisture effects on plants grown in space, and vision changes in astronauts,” according to NASA.
Crew-9, along with Wilmore and Williams, are now expected to return to Earth in February 2025.