A SpaceX capsule has successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS), setting the stage for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return home. Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, the duo has been aboard the ISS for over nine months due to technical challenges with the experimental spacecraft they arrived in.
The astronauts are expected to start their journey back to Earth later this week, a prospect that excites Steve Stich, manager of NASA's commercial crew program. "Butch and Suni have done an excellent job, and we're thrilled to bring them back," he stated.
Live broadcasts captured the SpaceX Crew Dragon docking with the ISS and the subsequent opening of the hatch. Shortly after 0545 GMT, the astronauts shared hugs with their colleagues in the weightless environment.
The current crew, including NASA's Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will be replaced by four new astronauts from Russia, Japan, and the United States. A two-day transition period will follow before the current team begins their return trip. However, Dana Weigel, manager of the ISS program, noted that their departure might be slightly delayed to ensure safe re-entry conditions.
"We'll be patient with the weather to ensure everything is favorable," she explained. Preparations for the handover began last week, with Butch ringing a ceremonial bell as Suni passed command to cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin.
Despite the extended stay, the astronauts have expressed contentment with their time on the ISS, with Suni Williams calling it her "happy place." However, Dr. Simeon Barber from the Open University pointed out the personal sacrifices involved. "Being away for nearly a year when you expected just a week can disrupt family life significantly," he said.
Butch and Suni arrived at the ISS in June 2024 to test Boeing's Starliner, an experimental spacecraft. The mission faced delays due to technical issues, including problems with thrusters and helium leaks in the propulsion system. NASA opted to bring the astronauts back on SpaceX's Dragon capsule during a scheduled crew rotation, prioritizing safety over using the Starliner.
Boeing, however, maintained that returning the astronauts on Starliner would have been safe and expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to use a competitor's capsule, which Dr. Barber described as "embarrassing" for Boeing.
In a joint interview, President Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk suggested that Butch and Suni's extended stay was politically motivated. President Trump remarked, "They got left in space," while Musk added, "They were left up there for political reasons." NASA's Steve Stich refuted these claims, stating that the decision was made after careful consideration of all options in collaboration with SpaceX.
Dr. Libby Jackson, head of space at the Science Museum in London, supported NASA's decision, emphasizing that the astronauts' safety was the top priority. "NASA made the right choice based on solid technical and programmatic reasons, ensuring Butch and Suni's safety," she said. "I eagerly anticipate their safe return to Earth, along with their crewmates."