Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore are preparing to return to Earth from space. NASA and SpaceX have finalized their plans for their safe return mission. They will soon return to Earth via the Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft.
Washington: NASA veteran astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally preparing to return to Earth. They were sent on a short mission to the International Space Station (ISS), initially planned for just ten days. However, a technical malfunction in their Boeing Starliner spacecraft extended their mission to approximately ten months.
During this time, NASA and Boeing teams continuously worked to investigate and rectify the Starliner's systems to ensure the astronauts' safe return. Their return process has now begun, and they will soon be back on Earth.
Reasons for Mission Delay and the New Plan
Sunita and Wilmore went to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Boeing Starliner mission, with a planned stay of only 10 days. However, a technical malfunction in the Starliner spacecraft extended the mission to 10 months. NASA ensured all possible safety measures were implemented for the astronauts' return.
Now, NASA and SpaceX have planned their return under the Crew-10 mission. Crew-10 members Anne McClain, Nicole Ayers, Takuya Onishi, and Kirill Pisklov will depart for the ISS on March 13th at 5:18 AM IST. Following this, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's return schedule will be activated.
Potential Return Date and Procedure
According to NASA, Williams and Wilmore's departure from the ISS aboard the Crew Dragon Freedom is tentatively scheduled for March 16th at 6:30 PM IST. However, this schedule is subject to weather and other technical factors. After approximately 10 months in microgravity, Sunita and Wilmore have experienced several physiological effects.
According to former astronaut Leroy Chiao, adapting to Earth's gravity after such a long period in space can take weeks. Former astronaut Terry Virts explained that returning space travelers often experience dizziness and a feeling of heaviness in their bodies. Additionally, the skin on their legs is affected as calluses disappear in space.
Heightened Political Debate
The delay in this mission has sparked a political debate in the United States. Former US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk have criticized the Biden administration, arguing that NASA delayed necessary actions for the astronauts' return. However, NASA has clarified that safety is the highest priority and any haste in the mission could have jeopardized the astronauts' lives.
