NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who embarked on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in June last year, are finally set to return to Earth after an extended stay due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner capsule.
When and Where Will Sunita Williams Return?
NASA had initially planned for Williams and Wilmore to return by the end of March or April. However, their return may happen earlier than expected, with sources indicating a possible landing on March 19 or 20.
The American space agency recently announced a change in plans involving SpaceX, opting to send the next crew in an older capsule while more work is done on the new Starliner. As a result, Williams and Wilmore will now return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
The Crew Dragon is scheduled to launch on March 12 at 7:48 PM EDT, carrying a new team to the ISS. Following this, Williams and Wilmore, along with two other astronauts, will return aboard the same capsule. Their landing is expected to take place in New Mexico, US.
Family Relieved Over NASA’s Decision
Amid concerns over the astronauts’ extended stay, Sunita Williams’ mother, Bonnie Pandya, expressed relief that NASA did not rush their return in the glitch-ridden Boeing Starliner. She reassured that her daughter is well-prepared for such challenges, stating, “She knows what she is doing.”
Williams, a veteran astronaut with two prior spaceflights, has been part of critical tests for Boeing’s Starliner program, which has faced multiple setbacks.
Sources By Agencies
