Two NASA astronauts stranded at the International Space Station are close to returning to Earth after a nine-month stay in space. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will have to wait for their replacements to arrive before they can depart at the end of this month.
Wilmore and Williams, retired Navy captains and veterans of space travel, have stated that they are in perfect health and committed to the mission, willing to stay at the station for as long as necessary. Upon their return, they will be accompanied by two astronauts who made an independent trip in September and will travel in the SpaceX capsule.
At a press conference, Wilmore noted that although politics is part of life, it has not influenced their return nor Williams'. The latter was advanced by a few weeks thanks to an adjustment in SpaceX capsules. Although President Donald Trump and Elon Musk expressed their desire to expedite the astronauts' return, Williams disagreed with Musk's proposal to dispose of the space station sooner than NASA planned.
On the other hand, the wait was prolonged due to setbacks experienced by the Starliner, which ultimately returned empty, and the additional time required to complete the new SpaceX capsule. Despite the inconveniences, the next crew is expected to travel in a capsule already used in March.
Wilmore and Williams, who departed in June 2024 on the Starliner capsule, have gone through intense moments, highlighting the importance of the scientific research they conduct at the space station. Although the wait has been challenging, Williams mentioned that the most complicated part was the uncertainty for their loved ones on Earth during this time.
