WASHINGTON, D.C.: After spending more than nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), two American astronauts stranded in orbit are finally set to return to Earth. NASA confirmed on Sunday that Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will make their journey back on Tuesday, March 18, aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Their return follows the successful docking of the Crew-10 Dragon capsule at the ISS early Sunday, marking a key step in their long-awaited homecoming. The astronauts will be joined on their return trip by NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, as part of a scheduled crew rotation.
Unexpected Delay After Starliner Issues
Wilmore and Williams initially launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5 last year for what was planned as a 10-day mission. However, due to propulsion malfunctions, the Starliner was deemed unsafe for their return, forcing the astronauts to remain on the ISS far longer than expected.
NASA officials have since arranged their return via SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, a move seen as both a routine crew transfer and a rescue mission given the extended stay of the astronauts.
Gratitude Expressed to Musk and Trump
In a video shared by Elon Musk on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), astronauts Wilmore and Williams expressed their appreciation for both Musk and former President Donald Trump, crediting them for playing a role in resolving the situation.
Williams said, “We are coming back before long, so don’t make those plans without me. We’ll be back before too long.”
Wilmore added, “We have the utmost respect for Mr. Musk and admiration for President Trump. We are grateful for everything they’ve done for us and for human spaceflight in our nation.”
Musk captioned the video, “Stranded NASA astronauts thank Elon Musk and Trump.”
Trump’s Response and Criticism of Previous Administration
Former President Trump, addressing the astronauts’ situation during a recent speech, said, “We’re bringing them back. They should not have been up there for this long. The prior administration let this happen, but I took action.”
He also made light-hearted comments about Williams, referencing her appearance in zero gravity, “She’s got a solid head of hair, that’s for sure.” Trump emphasized the risks associated with prolonged space missions and claimed to have authorized Elon Musk to proceed with the astronauts’ retrieval, blaming the previous administration for delays.
“We have two people up there that Biden and Kamala left behind,” Trump stated, adding that he intends to personally greet the astronauts upon their safe return to Earth.
Crew Dragon’s Timely Arrival
The Crew-10 mission, which began with a launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, docked with the ISS at 12:04 a.m. ET on Sunday after a journey of roughly 29 hours. Initially intended as a standard crew rotation, the mission took on greater significance as it also facilitated the return of Wilmore and Williams.
NASA has expressed confidence in the Crew Dragon’s ability to safely return all four astronauts to Earth, marking the end of an unexpected chapter in modern space travel.
