A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, bringing a replacement crew and moving two astronauts—Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore—one step closer to returning home after being stranded in space for over nine months.
The Crew Dragon arrived at the ISS at 5:45 GMT, carrying four astronauts who will replace the existing team. Williams and Wilmore, part of NASA’s Boeing Starliner mission, have been aboard the space station since June last year after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft suffered propulsion issues, making it unsafe for their return journey.
Emotional Reunion in Space
Live footage from the ISS showed a touching moment as the new arrivals embraced their fellow astronauts in zero gravity. Speaking from space, Sunita Williams described it as a “wonderful day” and expressed excitement over seeing their colleagues.
The arrival of the Crew-10 team, consisting of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russia’s Kirill Peskov, signals the final phase of Williams and Wilmore’s extended stay. The two NASA astronauts are now preparing for their return journey to Earth, which is expected no sooner than March 19.
A Long and Unexpected Stay in Space
Williams and Wilmore’s mission was originally intended to last just a few days. However, when their Boeing Starliner capsule was deemed unfit for re-entry, they were forced to extend their stay—leading to one of the longest NASA missions on the ISS.
While their nine-month stay falls short of records set by American astronaut Frank Rubio (371 days) and Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov (437 days), the unexpected nature of their prolonged stay drew global attention and sympathy. NASA had to send additional clothing and personal care items to accommodate them.
Upcoming Return Mission
Alongside Wilmore and Williams, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will also return to Earth aboard the Crew Dragon capsule, which will splash down in the ocean off the Florida coast.
New Crew’s Scientific Mission
The newly arrived Crew-10 team will now begin their six-month mission, conducting scientific experiments, including flammability tests for future spacecraft and research on the effects of space travel on the human body.
Sources By Agencies
