Saved by the Starship: The Long Stay of Astronauts Williams and Wilmore on the ISS
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ISS-bound SpaceX rocket takes off on vital astronaut rescue mission - SpaceX Initiates Rocket Journey Towards International Space Station (ISS)
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore found themselves stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) for a whopping nine months, thanks to technical snags with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Originally planned for a brief eight-day sojourn, their stay got extended due to a glitch in the Starliner's propulsion system during their June 2024 launch[1][2][3].
This unforeseen predicament sparked a political tornado when former president Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk blamed the previous administration under President Joe Biden for abandoning Wilmore and Williams due to political reasons. They also pushed for an earlier return mission, but specifics remained elusive[1].
While the astronauts themselves didn't see politics at play, they understood that space missions sometimes face contingencies. However, a dedicated rescue mission wasn't in the cards, as NASA prioritized maintaining adequate crew members on the ISS and didn't have the funds or operational needs for such a mission[1][2]. Instead, they planned to integrate their return with a routine crew rotation on the SpaceX Crew-10 mission[1][2][3].
Fast-forward to the present, and the Crew-10 mission has finally arrived at the ISS, paving the way for Williams and Wilmore to start their journey back home. They're set to depart the ISS alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who've been waiting on the ISS since last year, aboard a SpaceX capsule[1][2][3].
- ISS
- Suni Williams
- SpaceX
- International Space Station
- ISS crew
- Donald Trump
- Elon Musk
- Boeing
- I'm with Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore on this, as they face an extended stay on the International Space Station (ISS), a result of technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
- Despite the unanticipated handover days on the ISS, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are maintaining a positive outlook, understanding that space missions often encounter contingencies.
- As NASA prioritizes crew rotation on the SpaceX Crew-10 mission, astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, NASA astronaut Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will embark on a return journey together, marking the end of Wilmore and Williams' long stay on the ISS.
