After 9 Months in Space: NASA’s Stuck Astronauts Gear Up for Their Long-Awaited Return!

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are gearing up for their return to Earth after spending nine months in space. Their homecoming is just a few weeks away, but they need to wait for their replacements to arrive at the International Space Station (ISS) next week before they can leave.

The duo will head back on a SpaceX capsule alongside two other astronauts who launched separately in September. This capsule also has two empty seats, making the journey a bit unique.

In a recent news conference, Wilmore mentioned that the timeline for their return got bumped up due to changes with the SpaceX vehicles. He shared that while politics often play a role in such events, their extended stay wasn’t influenced by that this time. Notably, both President Trump and Elon Musk had shown interest in speeding up their return.

However, Williams voiced her concern over Musk’s suggestion to decommission the ISS sooner than planned, emphasizing the importance of ongoing scientific research there. “This place is amazing, and right now is our prime time,” she stated, advocating for the station’s continued operation.

On a personal note, Williams expressed her excitement about reuniting with her Labrador retrievers after such a long time away. She admitted the hardest part was knowing their families had been anxiously waiting back home. “It’s been a roller coaster for them,” she said, reflecting on the emotional impact of their unexpected extended stay.

When they launched on Boeing’s new Starliner capsule last June, they expected to be gone for only about a week. However, the Starliner faced many issues, making it too risky to carry crew members, so it returned empty. This forced a delay in their return.

Last month, NASA announced that a previously used SpaceX capsule would be utilized for the next crew launch, allowing for an earlier liftoff. Wilmore and Williams will spend about a week with the incoming crew on the ISS before making their way back home with NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian astronaut Alexander Gorbunov.

As seasoned flight veterans, Wilmore and Williams have assured that they are in good health and ready for this long mission. They even took a spacewalk together in January, showcasing their commitment to the task at hand.

For their ride back, they will don standard SpaceX flight suits instead of custom ones. Williams joked about the change, saying, “We’re just Butch and Suni. Everyone knows who we are by now,” highlighting their familiarity with the audience.

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