- SpaceX launches ISS rescue mission
- Williams and Wilmore to return February 2024
- Crew Dragon docking streamed on NASA’s site
Astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June after their Boeing spacecraft experienced thruster malfunctions. Although the SpaceX rescue mission launched from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, it won’t bring them back until February.
SpaceX has embarked on a mission to retrieve the two astronauts aboard the ISS. Sunita “Suni” Williams, the pilot, and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, the commander, initially traveled to the ISS on Boeing’s latest spacecraft on June 5. Their mission was planned to last only eight days, but malfunctions in the Starliner’s propulsion system left them in space for several months.
In August, NASA announced that Williams and Wilmore would not return to Earth until 2025. SpaceX is now tasked with their return aboard a Crew Dragon flight. The spacecraft, carrying U.S. astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, launched Saturday evening. However, Hague and Gorbunov will return to Earth separately, leaving two empty seats on the Crew Dragon for Williams and Wilmore. They are expected to return in February 2024, marking eight months in space for the stranded astronauts.
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Before the launch, Hague commented on the unpredictable nature of space missions, saying, “There’s always something changing [with spaceflight],” adding that this time the issues were more publicly visible. Upon arrival in Cape Canaveral last week, he noted, “We have a dynamic challenge ahead of us, but we’re professionals and will rise to the task.
NASA Deputy Program Manager Dina Contella shared that Williams and Wilmore watched the SpaceX launch from the ISS, with Williams cheering “Go Dragon!” Boeing’s Starliner undocked from the ISS and returned to Earth in September, but without its crew. The spacecraft faced multiple issues, including thruster failures and helium leaks in its propulsion system.
During a September press conference from space, Williams and Wilmore described the ISS as their “happy place,” with Williams remarking, “In this business, you just have to move on to the next opportunity.” Wilmore reflected on their ordeal, stating, “It’s been a challenging few months, but we’ve been involved every step of the way, and there were certainly some tough moments.
The Crew Dragon is expected to dock with the ISS by 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, with a live stream available on NASA’s website.
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