NASA and SpaceX are expediting their crew rotation schedule to bring back astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS) earlier than originally planned.
The astronauts, who have been aboard the ISS since June 2023, were initially set to return on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, but ongoing technical issues have forced a change in plans.
NASA has now confirmed that SpaceX will handle their return as part of the Crew-9 mission.
Revised launch and return timeline
NASA has moved up the Crew-10 launch to 12 March, pending final safety checks and mission readiness. Originally slated for late March, the mission has been rescheduled to use SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft Endurance, which has successfully completed previous missions. The decision to use Endurance has allowed NASA to accelerate the timeline and ensure a quicker turnaround.
Once Crew-10 arrives at the ISS, a brief handover period will take place before Crew-9 departs. Williams, Wilmore, and their Crew-9 colleagues, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will then return to Earth.
Political pressure for a faster return
The prolonged stay of Williams and Wilmore has drawn attention from US political leaders. President Donald Trump publicly urged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to prioritise their return, while Musk described the situation as “terrible,” criticising the extended duration of their mission.
Williams and Wilmore were originally meant to return months ago aboard Boeing’s Starliner, which carried them to the ISS on its first crewed test flight. However, technical challenges, including helium leaks and propulsion system concerns, have kept the spacecraft grounded.
With no immediate resolution in sight, NASA has opted to use SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for their return, ensuring the astronauts can come home safely and without further delays.
NASA and SpaceX are now working to finalise preparations, with safety assessments and mission readiness reviews ongoing ahead of the scheduled March launch. CNBC TV 8
