Astronauts Stranded on ISS Set for Return to Earth

After an extended stay in orbit that surpassed nine months, astronauts Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore are on the verge of returning to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). Initially scheduled for just a week-long mission, their time in space has been significantly prolonged due to unforeseen circumstances.

Experts from NASA and SpaceX recently assessed the weather conditions to determine a suitable time for the astronauts' return. The analysis indicated that the early hours of Tuesday would present the best opportunity for their descent back to Earth.

As it stands, the plan is for Crew 9 to leave the ISS at 6:05 AM local time on Tuesday, with their capsule expected to splash down in the ocean off the coast of Florida around 11 PM the same day. However, officials have cautioned that this schedule may be subject to change due to various factors.

Over the weekend, a new crew, known as Crew 10, arrived to replace Crew 9. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS at 5:04 AM CET on Sunday morning, marking a significant transition as the new astronauts greeted their predecessors onboard.

Crew 10 consists of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskow. Their arrival had initially been delayed due to a hydraulic issue that needed resolving before launch.

The Crew 10 members are set to remain aboard the ISS until autumn, taking over the responsibilities from Crew 9, which also includes US astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunow. Hague and Gorbunow joined the ISS team in late September, while Williams and Wilmore have been on the station since early June.

The extended duration of Williams and Wilmore's mission was primarily attributed to technical complications encountered with their Starliner spacecraft. This spacecraft, developed by Boeing under NASA's direction, was intended to serve as an alternative for transporting astronauts to the ISS. However, it faced several setbacks, leading to a decision to retrieve the spacecraft without a crew in September for safety reasons.

During their time on the ISS, both Williams and Wilmore, who are seasoned astronauts with previous missions in space, have adapted to the challenges posed by their extended stay. Their experience in handling unexpected situations has likely played a crucial role in managing their time aboard the ISS effectively.