After nearly 270 days in space, U.S. astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally set to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule. The pair initially embarked on an eight-day mission in June 2024 but were left stranded after Boeing’s Starliner capsule suffered technical issues and returned to Earth unmanned.
The prolonged mission has drawn attention to NASA’s reliance on private companies. While SpaceX’s program is operational, Boeing continues to face challenges despite its $4.8 billion contract.
NASA released a video highlighting the astronauts’ extended stay, showcasing their scientific work and spacewalks. Williams and Wilmore will be replaced by a new crew launching on March 12, with Russian cosmonaut Aleksey Ovchinin taking command of the ISS.
