NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams an experienced astronaut, has been a significant contributor to space exploration. Selected by NASA in 1998, she has participated in two major missions (Expeditions 14/15 and 32/33) and spent over 322 days in space. Her expertise includes conducting seven spacewalks, earning her a prominent position among astronauts with extensive extravehicular activity experience

In her recent mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, Williams traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2024. Although initially planned as a short-duration mission around 8 days, technical challenges with the spacecraft’s service module caused her stay to be extended. As a result, she has taken on leadership responsibilities, serving as the commander of the ISS.

This mission is expected to add significantly to her total time in space, potentially placing her among the astronauts with the longest cumulative time spent in orbit. Her return to Earth is now projected for early 2025.

How NASA is planning on return?

NASA has collaborated with Space X dragon cargo capsule!

Williams and Wilmore launched to the ISS in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for what was intended to be an eight-day mission. However, technical issues with Starliner’s propulsion system extended their stay. NASA deemed it too risky for the astronauts to return using Starliner, deciding instead to bring the spacecraft back to Earth uncrewed.

Current Plan:

NASA has arranged for Williams and Wilmore to return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. The launch of their replacement crew, initially scheduled for February 2025, has been postponed to late March or early April 2025 to allow additional preparation time for the new SpaceX capsule. Consequently, Williams and Wilmore’s return is now expected around that timeframe.

Implications:

This delay will extend their mission to nearly ten months, significantly longer than the original plan. While extended stays on the ISS are not unprecedented, they require careful management to ensure the astronauts’ health and safety. NASA has stated that both astronauts are in good health and are receiving routine medical evaluations during their extended mission.

This situation underscores the complexities and challenges of space travel, particularly when unforeseen technical issues arise. NASA and its partners continue to prioritise the safety of their astronauts while working to resolve the technical problems encountered during this mission.

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