Watch: Instant SpaceX launches rockets with crew to ease tied astronauts
SpaceX has launched a rocket carrying new crews at the International Space Station (ISS) as part of its plans to take the homes of astronauts Butch Willmore and Suni Williams.
The pair were scheduled to participate in the ISS for just eight days, but they were there for more than nine months due to technical issues with the experimental spacecraft.
The astronauts are scheduled to begin their journey to Earth two days after the new crew arrives. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s commercial crew program, said he was delighted with prospects.
“Butch and Suni have done a great job and we are excited to get them back,” he said.
The astronauts will be released by two astronauts from Russia, Japan and the United States, along with ISS workmates Nick Hague of NASA and Aleksandr Gorbunov, astronaut of Roscosmos.
There will be a two-day handover, after which the old crew will begin their journey to Earth. However, according to ISS program manager Dana Weigel, there could be more delays as the conditions on Earth are waiting for them to be appropriate for a safe re-entry of the returned capsule.
“Weather has to work together all the time, so if that’s not good, we’ll take the time,” she told reporters.
Weigel explained that astronauts began preparing for the handover last week.
“Butch rang a ritual bell when Suni handed the command to astronaut Alexei O’Tinin,” she said.
NASA
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Snie Williams will soon return home
NASA
Suni Williams describes being in space as her “happy place”
Astronauts consistently say they are happy to ride on the space station, and Suni Williams describes it as her “happy place.” However, Dr. Simeon Barber of Open University told BBC News that there was likely a personal cost.
“When you’re sent on a business trip that’s supposed to last a week, you don’t expect it to take the best part of the year,” he said.
“This extension in the universe would have been a period of upheaval as it was going back home and it was going on about how they would have missed out.”
Butch and Suni arrived at the ISS in the beginning of June 2024 to test an experimental spacecraft called Starliner. It was built by SpaceX rival Aerospace Firm Boeing.
This mission has been delayed several years due to technical issues in the development of the spacecraft, and was subject to issues during launch and docking to the ISS. This included some issues with Starliner thrusters. This includes what is needed to slow the spacecraft to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, as well as helium gas leaks in the propulsion system.
NASA
Astronauts Suni Williams (left) and Butch Willmore were supposed to be staying at the space station for eight days.
NASA decided that it didn’t even need a small risk to bring Butch and Snin back into the Starliner when they had the option to return them in SpaceX’s Dragon Capsules. NASA decided that this was to do this during scheduled crew rotations, despite the sign that it would mean keeping astronauts on the space station for several months.
Boeing has consistently argued that it is safe to return Butch and Snin to Starliner and that they are unhappy with the decision to use rival capsules instead.
“For Boeing, it’s not good to see astronauts who have invaded space return to the craft of competitors.”
NASA
Artwork: Five of Starliner piloted thrusters stalled while docking to the ISS
President Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk say Butch and Suni could have been brought home earlier.
President Trump said: “They were left in space.”
When interviewer Sean Hannity says, “They were supposed to be there for eight days. They have almost 300 there,” Trump responds with the phrase “Biden.” Musk argues that “they were left there for political reasons.”
This assertion is rejected by NASA’s Steve Stitch.
“We looked at the wide range of options, we held hands and worked together with SpaceX, and saw what was the best thing to do overall, and when we built it all, it was that we had something we were on the road,” he said.
The decision was supported by Dr. Libby Jackson, the space chief of the Science Museum in London and who worked at the ISS’s European Control Centre.
“Butch and Suni’s happiness would have always been at the forefront of everyone’s minds, as decisions were being made about how best to deal with the situation they were presented,” she said.
“NASA has made these decisions based on programmatic reasons and found the right solution to keep Butch and Sun-i safe.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing them return to a safe and healthy planet with the rest of our crew.”
