The renowned space agency of the USA, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration.), has given an important update regarding the return of Indian-origin astronauts Sunita Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station. Initially, the return of these two astronauts was planned for February 2025, but now it has been postponed to late March 2025 at the earliest. NASA confirmed the delay, assuring the safety and well-being of all crew members.
Sunita Williams described the Space Station as a “Happy Place”
Sunita Williams is presently on the International Space Station (ISS); she says it is her “happy place.” In her recent statement, she said she enjoys a lot there, even though her mission has been extended unexpectedly. She is excited to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Day with other crew members to enjoy a festive spirit.
There are seven astronauts and cosmonauts in the crew; they will be on leave and relaxing during the holidays, unwrapping gifts, having special meals prepared from supplies and fresh ingredients delivered by the SpaceX Dragon cargo mission recently, and communicating with family and friends through video calls.
NASA recently shared a happy image of Williams and fellow astronaut Don Pettit with Santa hats under the ISS’s Columbus laboratory module. Williams shared her excitement about enjoying the festive meals and connecting with her family. This year’s celebration marks a long-standing tradition among all the astronauts who have celebrated holidays in orbit since Apollo 8 in 1968.
The Stay from Extended, “Eight Days to Eight Months”
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore went to the space station on 5 June 2024. They were initially supposed to stay for eight days in orbit after launching aboard Boeing’s Starliner. But, due to multiple technical difficulties—including helium leaks and thruster failures—the spacecraft could not safely return them to Earth, and they have been on the space station for eight months.
Eventually, the Starliner came back without the astronauts last week. Addressing the situation during a press conference, Sunita Williams seemed calm, and she expressed comfort in her life at the space station as she and Wilmore had experienced living on ISS. She further said this is how things go in this business. Although she is eagerly waiting to complete this mission on the Starliner and come back to Earth. She further added, “We have to turn the page and get ready for the next big opportunity.”
As per the recent statement by NASA, it is expected that Williams and Wilmore will return to Earth in March 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, led by Elon Musk’s company. Williams said that she is a bit nervous about the delayed return because of her family plans. Wilmore is not disappointed by the continuous delay, explaining that safety concerns with Starliner led to their transfer to a SpaceX flight.
Boeing’s Starliner has suffered numerous delays and failures over the years. Its first crewed mission for the spacecraft was launched on June 5 with Williams and Wilmore. However, numerous issues emerged. Five out of Starliner’s 28 thrusters failed, and several helium leaks were found. While the spacecraft would dock with the ISS, NASA and Boeing discovered it wasn’t safe for the astronauts to come back on it. Due to this, Starliner returned to Earth empty, and the astronauts were transferred to SpaceX’s mission. Despite the technical challenges, Williams and Wilmore were optimistic throughout the process.
However, this prolonged stay has fueled growing concerns among common people. The uncertainty in astronauts’ return and their extended stay has created a widespread debate about the safety of the mission and its impact on astronauts’ health.